Feature for The Phantom of the Opera

Not content with being one of Hollywood's most successful movie stars, Minnie Driver showed off her skills as a singer, songwriter and guitarist with the release of her debut album, 'Everything I've Got In My Pocket', earlier this year - proving she is one of the brightest stars to come out of Britain.

But despite her multitude of talent, the stunning actress has hit more headlines with her high profile romances than her box office or chart successes.

Since shooting to fame opposite Chris O'Donnell in the 1995 film 'Circle of Friends', Minnie has been linked to a string of movie icons, rock gods and sports stars.

One of her most famous relationships - and love splits - was with Hollywood heartthrob Matt Damon, who she fell for on the set of 'Good Will Hunting' in 1997. The handsome actor famously announced on America's Oprah Winfrey chat show that he and Minnie were no longer dating - a fact he had apparently neglected to tell Minnie. The actress recently admitted the story had been "blown out of proportion", but confessed she still doesn't speak with Matt. Following her tradition of falling for her leading men, Minnie was next linked to her 'Grosse Point Blank' co-star John Cusack, before she started dating actor Josh Brolin, who she met on the set of their film 'Slow Burn' in 1998.

The besotted pair soon announced their engagement and the bride-to-be started to plan a low-key wedding in front of close friends and family. She said at the time: "It's not going to be a big event. I want it to be a small family affair. There won't be millions of guests that are for sure. Josh is my partner in crime, the man for me. And this is about us. I don't want a big fuss. I won't be wearing a white dress so there won't be any bother over who designs it."

However, Minnie reportedly clashed with her stepmother - notorious diva Barbra Streisand - over the wedding plans. While the raven-haired actress wanted a modest ceremony, sources claimed Barbra was determined to through a lavish bash. She was said at the time to have invited a star-studded list of guests to a spectacular summer event, including director Steven Spielberg, actors Tom Hanks, John Travolta, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. Not only had she hired an army of waiters, selected caterers to serve the finest food and vintage champagne, she also volunteered to compose and sing a special song for the occasion.

But before Barbra's 'wedding of the year' could take place, Minnie and Josh sensationally split and Minnie tearfully handed back her dazzling sapphire and diamond engagement ring. The pair's spokespeople insisted the break-up was "amicable" and blamed Josh and Minnie's hectic careers. But sources close to the couple claimed Josh was "too possessive" and suggested that Barbra's domineering wedding planning was the final nail in the coffin. After jilting fiancé Josh - who is now married to actress Diane Lane - it appeared Minnie had lost interest in actors and had taken a shine to rock stars.

Just days after the split she was seen getting up close and personal with legendary lothario Mick Jagger - who is 27 years her senior - over a champagne dinner at a Los Angeles restaurant.

One fellow diner revealed at the time: "They were all over each other like a rash. They kept touching each other and holding hands. They only seemed to have eyes for each other and didn't seem remotely interested in the guests with them."

Shortly after her intimate dinner with the Rolling Stone, Minnie was linked to singer Chris Isaak and Chrysalis record executive Ben Bodie, who insisted they were just friends.

In January 2002, newspaper had fun with a slew of car-themed headlines when Minnie embarked on a romance with Harrison Ford, who is nearly 30 years her senior. Interestingly, Minnie admitted she fancied Harrison in an interview six years ago, saying: "I really fancy Harrison Ford. I've got to say I think he's really divine. He's, like, an older man, I guess, although he's not really that old, obviously. I don't want to offend him."

But after just three months of dating, Harrison - now with 'Ally McBeal' actress Calista Flockhart - dumped Minnie, reportedly leaving her heartbroken. The unlucky-in-love beauty was spotted sobbing bitterly as she told her mum, Gaynor, and sister Kate that she had scared the media-shy Ford off, by demanding to go public with their relationship.

But, according to a Hollywood source at the time, their pairing was never destined to be a match made in heaven.

The source revealed: "Minnie likes to dress up and go to parties and premieres. She likes to be the centre of attention. But Harrison is the complete opposite. He's profoundly private."

Minnie appeared to have found love once again when she started romancing another rock star, Bob Schneider - but once again the relationship was short-lived.

Last year, after dating several older men, the 'Hard Rain' star found herself a toyboy in the form of 22-year-old tennis player Robby Ginepri, who is 12 years her junior. After being spotted with the sports hunk at the 2003 Wimbledon tournament in London, Minnie gushed: "It's going so well, we've been seeing each other for five months and I am loving every minute of it." But although Minnie thought Robby was her Mr Right, she turned out to be wrong and has now opted for a much more low-key relationship in the hope that it will last.

She is currently with a "normal" man, who she code-names 'Mike the Butcher'. Although she admits: "He's not a butcher. And I'm not telling you who he is."

Despite all her heartache, Minnie has been able to take a positive from her failed romances and use the experiences to write songs, which feature on her debut album and landed her a lucrative record contract earlier this year. She was desperate to sign a recording contract before her new movie, 'The Phantom of the Opera', hits cinemas - because she didn't want music bosses to think she could only do classical music.

Minnie, who plays diva Carlotta in the lavish movie version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, explained: "I had to get my record out before the movie comes out - because then people are going to think I'm an opera singer!"

- Jo Chase / BANG