Minnie Driver Still Rules!

THE SERPENT QUEEN ACTRESS MUSES ON ROMANCE, PARENTING AND PLAYING ONE OF BRITAIN'S GREATEST MONARCHS

- JP MANGALINDAN

If Minnie Driver's decadeslong career has taught her anything, it's to seize opportunities as they come-and to keep believing in herself.

"Don't hang your hat on anything outside of yourself," she says. "Don't look to the outward approbation of others." It's a philosophy Driver, 54, brought to her latest role, Queen Elizabeth I on Starz's The Serpent Queen.

"I wanted to make sure that this brilliantly strong, dangerous, clever person was given that heft," she says of the monarch who reigned for 45 years. These days the actress and musician's dominion involves balancing a serene family life-she's a mom to 15-year-old Henry and partner to filmmaker Addison O'Dea with work, including her podcast Minnie Questions and two films in development.