Minnie Driver is a guest on the Ellen show today, where she’s promoting her show Speechless on ABC. It’s a sitcom which premiered last fall and has its season finale on Wednesday. Minnie plays the mom of a special needs son who fights to get him in the best school, often to the detriment of the rest of her family. I haven’t seen it yet but the trailer makes it look cute and Metacritic rates Speechless at 79%.
Anyway Minnie talked to Ellen about her eight year-old son, Henry, and called him “a very unattractive baby.” She posted the above photo to her Instagram recently as evidence and I’m just not seeing it. She also said that Henry is a talented musician.
Minnie Driver sat down with Ellen DeGeneres to talk about her son Henry and admitted that when he was born he wasn’t exactly cute.
‘He was a very unattractive baby,’ the English actress, 47, explained.
She revealed she used to say to people: ‘You don’t have to tell me that he’s beautiful coz I know he’s not, but I love him.’‘He’s quite a brilliant musician,’ she told the daytime chat show host in an interview taped for Monday’s edition of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
‘He plays the piano and he sings and he’s just learnt Clocks by Coldplay and he plays music like Elton John,’ Minnie gushed.
Minnie also said that little Henry didn’t have hair for two years and that if he didn’t know she thought he was an unattractive baby he knows now. To be fair she also said that she was ugly as a baby too. Maybe I’m in the minority and I’m ok with that, but I don’t think babies can be particularly “ugly.” Like even the weirdest-looking babies are cute to me just by virtue of being babies. Plus Henry was cute! He just had a big head, that’s all. I’m biased though because my son’s giant head was always in the 99% percentile for his age, he was huge.
Minnie also talked about her boyfriend of three years, a British guy named Neville Wakefield. Apparently she knew him as a teenager when he dated a friend, ran into him again and they started seeing each other almost immediately. When you google the guy he’s mostly associated with Minnie but he had some fame prior to dating her as he’s an artist, photographer and philosopher according to this interview. It’s unclear exactly what he does for a living. Hmmm. I also wonder if Minnie makes jokes about his looks. I do! He’s not a bad looking guy, I’m just saying.
photos credit: WENN, Fame, Getty and Minnie Driver/Instagram
Baby kind of looked like Winston Churchill. And “Speechless” is an excellent show.
Speechless is fantastic! Very funny and Minnie is hilarious in it. ABC is really killing it with their sitcoms. Blackish, Fresh off the Boat, and Modern Family are my other favorites. And I’m typically more of a 30 Rock, Always Sunny kinda gal.
He looks like Dr. Evil from the Austin Power’s movie!!! He was kind of funny looking, but such a joyous little ball of love!! And hey, my second son wasn’t gorgeous when born, but ended up being the best looking of my three kids.
Pretty sure that’s not an unattractive baby. He looks like a normal baby! I knew a mom with a very unattractive baby. The baby was cute I guess… but it was actually one of those cases when you see the kid and think “yikes!” The kid grew up to be beautiful though so no worries! But yeah, not sure what Minnie is smoking…
Margo: I also think he’s a cute baby, but I get what she’s saying. Genes are funny, aren’t they? My niece was a very unattractive baby (don’t worry, my sister, her mother, said it first!), and grew to be a beautiful child and young woman. My daughter is 12 years younger than my niece, and was a beautiful baby. Now my daughter is grown up, she looks almost identical to her cousin. It’s incredible and weird.
I like Minnie, and, wow – Henry is gorgeous!
Aw, he was cute (and still is). I also know a girl who was an unattractive baby. I didn’t know it was possible until then!
My sister was a very ugly baby, and ended up being absolutely gorgeous!!
I can see her joking around about it. She also had a very full, moon shaped face when she was younger (Circle of Friends days.) I’ve always liked her, she’s a little off kilter from the usual Hollywood types.
I think she put on weight for Circle of Friends, and lost it again afterwards. I really liked her in Grosse Point Blank. She looks good.
I dunno , I find a lot of babies ugly, the one in the pic is cute as hell though. It’s an odd turn of phrase though, “very unattractive baby”…as opposed to all of those attractive babies out there? I guess there’s no other gentle way to say “ugly”.
Yes there are some not so cute babies. When most people see babies they gush and goes oh she/he is so cute. But when you see an ugly baby you just say oh, how precious or adorable. Or he has your eyes/smile. And babies have some big ass heads that they haven’t grown into yet.
When my son was born premature by 6 weeks (breech baby); I knew it was a horrible thing to think; but, his face reminded me of a baby squirrel. I never told him that, until he got older. I felt ashamed of feeling that way. Now, when I tell him the story of when I first laid eyes on him & thought of a baby squirrel, he howls with laughter. As it turned out, he’s now a very handsome young man, living in South Korea, teaching English & working on his Master’s Degree. (sorry for the bragging).. But, to be honest, not all babies are born beautiful; we just need to love them unconditionally. I know that in this superficial world we live in, “Beauty is Power” & lots of money goes toward making ourselves beautiful or at least attractive to ourselves & other people. I’m glad that there’s a trend in the modeling industry for people that have an “interesting look” as opposed to the cookie cutter, perfect everything, facial types. I don’t really know what my point is; just that people like Trump who judge women by their looks really make me sick. He criticizes overweight women & acts like he’s God’s gift to women. When will this nightmare be over? I can’t take much more of him!
I had a colleague who was so nice but definitely not a good looking man. When he brought in his baby to work to show him off, I braced myself to lie about how adorable junior was. Turns out he was one of the most gorgeous babies I have ever seen. Must have taken after his mother.
My second don had baby acne and a big bald spot. Of course to me, he was beautiful, but Gerber baby he was not lol. Luckily, at 9, he has a full head of hair and clear skin (at least for a couple more years lol)
Gah. It’s like that line from Cruel Intentions: Everybody does it, it’s just no one talks about it.
Same thing applies. You know some babies are just like little plucked chickens, but you don’t SAY it. And you sure don’t say it about your own kid.
it’s not special snowflake shit, it’s just respect. You don’t tell anyone they are ugly, ever.
Most babies look alike. I don’t get the whole unattractive descriptor for babies, unless there’s something really off about the baby like humongous ears or something. Even then, that kind baby is generally pretty cute.
The line about her baby is a big departure from everyone else on Facebook that acts like their children are the greatest looking beings alive. In a way, I guess I find her description kind of amusing. At least there’s a chance her son won’t grow up to be like Gwyneth Paltrow, I suppose.
I agree. Her honesty is refreshing. And she didn’t say it about how he looks NOW, just as a baby. Many babies are funny looking, but they are all still beautiful in their purity and innocence, also.
He looks cute. I love bald-headed babies.
One of my friends had a not-very-cute baby all the way up to about 18 months old. The baby had a big, very long shaped head, hair that made the baby look even more like a boy the way you had to comb it, flat, straight hair, plain features. Whenever I would see her and her little baby, of course I cooed over the child like she was the prettiest baby ever. Cut to four years of age, when I went to visit her in another city where she now lived, and she was the absolute cutest little girl ever, with the most gorgeous long ringlets.
I know it’s funny because most parents think their baby is the most beautiful baby in the history of mankind. But I just had this talk with someone this weekend, the things parents say stick with you. They like to cast siblings in particular roles sometimes. The smart one, the pretty one, the clown. And they mean no harm but that sticks with you. I have a friend who’s incredibly successful and yes, intelligent, who is still fighting the “not so brainy” stamp he got when he was 10 and didn’t do well in ONE subject in school. Just because his brother was a straight A student. To this day he’s the cute one, the brother the smart one. One time after 2 beers he suddenly telle me “I am NOT stupid.” Um, no, honey, you’re really not. I couldn’t convince him that parents sometimes simply suck without meaning to.
I know I’m being super serious about something so harmless but he’s only 8. I don’t know that I had a sense of humor about myself at that age.
Yep, I agree with this. We speak words over our children and they have an impact. I’m already finding myself putting my 3 year old son in an “introvert, engineer, sensitive” box and my 17 month old daughter in a “handful, loud, stubborn” box. guilty guilty guilty. I am consciously trying to look for the positive in my kids to encourage them and not stereotype them into boxes.
My parents were pretty good about letting us develop into who we wanted to be and speaking positivity over us. Not perfect and a lot of issues there, but I’m grateful in some ways because I grew up feeling like I could accomplish whatever goals I wanted to set, and knowing that my parents thought i was beautiful, smart, kind, etc.
I know, super serious, yada yada… but I agree.
Back to the fun stuff. 🙂 I think her baby was cute!
LittleMissNaughty: Totally! This is the labelling theory: whatever you’re labelled, you’ll live up (or down) to meet the perception.
That’s why you shouldn’t say, “He’s a picky eater” or “she’s a class clown” as it’ll reinforce that behaviour…
Abby: you’re doing a fine job…even questioning things proves that you’re a conscientious mama!!
FINALLY..
I have asked friends and just anyone if they had a baby would they be able to admit to themselves (probably in private) that the baby was not “attractive”. I remember when my aunt/uncle were going to be grandparents for the first time. They LOVE kids and were like baby crazy with any child they saw. So when they finally were going to be grandparents my aunt said that she and my uncle agreed that no matter what the baby looked like they would just say it was the cutest baby even if they knew it wasn’t. So I have always wondered if parents just see “beautiful” baby even if it is not. Because I don’t think all babies are beautiful in appearance. EXISTENCE yes.. but not appearance. I don’t have kids and maybe because of that I can look at a baby and think..cute or not. But some babies are cute because they are do funny looking.
Just wondering and asking the question: Can you as a parent admit or see with a clear eye if your child as a baby or older is not really attractive?
Sure. One of my children is more physically attractive than the other, and it was clear from the time they were babies. Mr. tracking and I acknowledged it once, but of course never discussed it in front of the kids. Not a big deal. That’s life. I do think an only child (someone not being compared unfavorably to a sibling) would not be too peeved about any infant physical appearance comments or jokes. We should all lighten up about these things.
I think Jennifer Aniston and Sigourney Weaver have both said their moms didn’t find them to be very pretty.
I figure parents in general find their children to be attractive simply because they “know” them. When you know a person in an intimate way, whether as a child, friend, sibling, or parent, or alternatively, as a lover, I think that person generally becomes more beautiful to you. I almost think it’s a little weird if a parent doesn’t find their children to be cute on some level simply because a) so few people are that extremely outstanding-looking, and the ones who are considered in general to be outstanding looking usually work at looking good like Hugh Jackman or Brad Pitt, so any neutral level of cuteness should seem acceptable to people and b) it’s usually the character of a person that makes them pretty in the long run (and parents see character in their children). I always assumed parents find their children to be beautiful in the same way children think their mothers are the most beautiful women in the world.
I don’t know if any of this makes any sense, but people become more beautiful in our eyes when we get to know them better and parents know their children in the most intimate way possible. Of course, if parents have given birth to a child with a monstrous personality, that’s a whole different story. Then I wouldn’t find it odd if they find their kids to be straight-up ugly.
The other issue is when you are very attractive and that is all people see in you. My daughter was like that, and at this point, at the age of 22, purposefully dresses down, often dresses like a tomboy, never wears make-up, cause she takes the subway every day and when she does, she gets a lot of very uncomfortable attention.
My second son was very ugly when a newborn. He was adorable by 4 months and is the best looking of my three kids – although they are all beautiful!! LOL!!! Seriously, he really is beautiful, but as a newborn?? Yikes!!!
Looking at the picture of her baby properly, I just realized that her baby didn’t have eyebrows. Maybe that’s why she thinks her baby wasn’t that cute.
ha. my eldest son had (has) a big head…i used to sing “head like a bowl” (head like a hole by nin) all the time, under my breath and giggle. he was beautiful to me, but boy had a boulder head. yep.
Both of my nephews were ugly as hell while babies. One was born with a cone shaped head, the others head was huge as a bowling ball, the same size as it is now, almost 11 years later. They’re both handsome and cute now
Ah, the conehead babies always get to me. They kind of aren’t cute, until I remember the Coneheads movie and SNL skits. Then I just imagine the babies are Conehead aliens (and therefore, hugely funny to me), and they suddenly seem cuter. I’m not even trying to do it, it just happens immediately.
Awww! Henry was cute then and he’s a cutie now! I hope he has his mom’s sense of humor.
Oh I beg to differ! The Olsen twins were UGLY as babies. Google pics of them, they were NOT cute. Even as toddlers they were odd looking. They’re fine looking now, unusual wardrobe aside.
And my friend who has 2 kids–her oldest son was not cute as a baby and he’s a toddler now and still not cute. Some kids grow into their looks, others don’t. Sometimes your baby isn’t cute and I don’t pretend. I just avoid the word “cute.”
He’s just… breathtaking! (Elaine forever)
But for reals that’s a cute baby. I have seen some not cute babies and that isn’t one of them.
Speechless is a FANTASTIC show. She is so funny, the kids are so funny, Kripkee (sorry he’ll never not be Kripkee) is also funny. At first I would just catch the opener from recording the previous show (The Goldbergs also fantastic if you’re not watching it!) and after two or three I finally said OK I just need to record this show too and see what I’m missing.
I’ve loved Minnie since Circle of Friends.
Not gonna lie my daughter was pretty hideous up until like 6-7 months lol. We didn’t think that until like, 1.5 years old looking back at her pics like who is this little alien?? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. My daughter is the absolute love of my life and I could cry just looking at her (pregnancy hormones maybe) and she’s absolutely stunning now…but I’m biased.
I’ve had this conversation with friends and we all had similar experiences of thinking our firstborns were baby models. Then, two years later, we look at the old photos and think “Objectively, meh”. Babies are cute bc everything is so small. Small hands, small feet. We are biologically hardwired to find them cute in order to ensure we take care of them. So even if their facial features leave something to be desired, we have the rest of the package to dote on!!
I love reading the comments and NOT seeing “omg you NEVER call a baby ugly” I mean, c’mon, most of us have seen at least one baby & thought ‘geez…sorry little guy’. My cousins son looked like a little monkey when he was a baby & she was the 1st to say it. S wasn’t a delusional parent who said isn’t he the cutest! I mean he was cute in a baby kinda way, but he still had a monkey-like face. He’s 14 now & is growing up to be quite handsome which of course for a teen is great. But I will say that this baby is not ugly, but I have a soft spot for babies w fat cheeks…..if their cheeks are chubs they’re perfect to me, & that was one little chubster!
And I love Speechless, the characters are great
I like this broad more than ever now.
Any smiling baby is kinda cute- but chica straight up called a spade a spade.
That was not a cute baby.
Some people just need time to grow into some things & develop some character into their faces.
…..
Actually no.
Most if not all do.
I have seen some downright ugly little babies including my cousin’s daughter, Sabrina. Her head was huge, she had a little chicken neck and not a hair on her head. She was not at all pretty so every time I saw here I would say “she is sooooo precious!” which seemed to work. I’m happy to report that Sabrina is now a teenager and is quite lovely. Full head of dark blonde hair, chicken neck gone and her head no longer is too big for her body.
I love her new show. I’ve been to England, but can’t tell what’s part she is playing in the show. Her accent is hysterical. I want to say Manchester.
All babies are cute. None are ugly 🙁 how awful to say that about any living creature. Same with animals. Its their unconditional love and lack of eye brows lol that make them all unique babies!!
When my son was born, I remember thinking “Nawww, don’t you look a little bit… special”. He was practically bald and his face was all newborn-puffy. After a couple of days he earned the nickname ‘Benjamin Button’ because he had a very wrinkly forehead and rather curious facial expressions. He really was like a tiny old man. Became cute as hell though. Little guy is almost 3 now and has only had two haircuts; that’s how long it’s taken his hair to grow 😂