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Latest News: Adam Driver Stars as Enzo Ferrari in New Biopic
Audiences are flocking to theaters to see Adam Driver portray the iconic Italian automaker Enzo Ferrari in the highly anticipated biopic Ferrari. Directed by Michael Mann, the film also features Penélope Cruz and Shailene Woodley and focuses on Ferrari’s personal and professional challenges in 1957. In a behind-the-scenes featurette from the film’s distributor Neon, Mann highlighted the striking parallels between Driver’s career and the tenacity of the legendary figure he portrays. “Adam applies to Juilliard, is rejected, joins the Marine Corps at 19. Afterward, he returns to Juilliard, studies, and becomes determined,” Mann shared. “This drive mirrors Ferrari’s own early years as an aspiring racer, discovering a passion for acting that nothing would deter.”
Who Is Adam Driver?
Adam Driver, 40, first garnered attention with his Emmy-nominated supporting role in the HBO series Girls. His career quickly soared as he starred in high-profile films, including the Star Wars sequel trilogy, earning Academy Award nominations for his roles in BlacKkKlansman and Marriage Story. Before achieving success in Hollywood, Driver served in the Marines for over two years following the September 11 attacks, before attending the prestigious Juilliard School. His latest film, Ferrari, was released in theaters on Christmas Day 2023.
Early Life
Adam Douglas Driver was born on November 19, 1983, in San Diego to Nancy, a paralegal, and Joe, a Baptist youth counselor. After their divorce when Adam was seven, Nancy moved with her children to Mishawaka, Indiana. There, Adam lived with his grandparents for a time, and his mother later remarried Rodney G. Wright, a Baptist preacher who became his stepfather.
Growing up in a small town, Driver and his friends sought entertainment in unconventional ways, including climbing radio towers, setting fires, and making amateur films with a camcorder. Inspired by movies like Fight Club (1999), Driver and his friends even started their own “fight club,” although Driver later explained that it wasn’t about anger, but about testing his own limits. “I think it was something that scared me, getting hit, and the challenge in yourself to just turn the volume down on things,” he shared in a 2019 interview with The New Yorker.
In addition to his love for filmmaking, Driver developed an interest in stage acting during high school, where he landed a lead role in Arsenic and Old Lace. After graduating in 2001, he applied to Juilliard, but was rejected. This setback motivated him to pursue a career in Hollywood, though after his car broke down en route and he faced financial difficulties, he briefly returned to Mishawaka before finally attending Juilliard and launching his successful acting career.
U.S. Marine and Early Life
Driver was working various odd jobs in Indiana when the tragic events of September 11, 2001, sparked within him a strong desire for retribution. This drive led him to enlist in the military. Seeking a physical challenge, he joined the United States Marine Corps in 2002. “They kind of got me with their whole, ‘We don’t give you signing bonuses. We’re the hardest branch of the armed forces. You’re not going to get all this cushy stuff that the Navy or the Army gives you. It’s going to be hard,'” Driver later recalled.
After completing a physical exam in Indianapolis, Driver traveled to San Diego, where he spent two and a half months in boot camp. He then trained as a mortarman at Camp Pendleton, located just outside the city. Although Driver served in the Marine Corps for over two years, his military career was cut short due to a sternum injury sustained in a mountain-biking accident, resulting in a medical discharge in 2004, just before he could be deployed overseas to Iraq. Reflecting on his service, Driver shared in an interview with Military Times, “I felt like I hadn’t completed my four years. That always kind of bothers me.” Following his discharge, Driver attended the University of Indianapolis for a year before returning to his passion for acting, ultimately gaining acceptance to Juilliard.
Breakthrough in Entertainment
After graduating from Juilliard in 2009, Driver landed his first television role in the series The Unusuals (2009). He went on to make guest appearances on Law & Order and star in TV movies such as You Don’t Know Jack (2010) and The Wonderful Maladys (2010). During this time, Driver also began performing in theater, making his Broadway debut in 2010 with a revival of George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession.
In 2011, Driver secured a pivotal role on Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking HBO series Girls (2012–2017), portraying Adam Sackler, the on-again, off-again love interest of the main character. The show became a cultural phenomenon, and Driver received three consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. His portrayal of Adam Sackler remained a key part of the show’s success across all six seasons.
Rising Star in Film
Girls was a launching pad for Driver’s film career. He quickly transitioned to high-profile projects, appearing in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (2012) and the Coen brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis (2013). However, it was his role as Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequel trilogy that catapulted Driver to international fame. First appearing in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Driver played the complex antagonist Kylo Ren, a character torn between the light and dark sides of the Force. The film was a massive success, grossing over $2 billion globally and cementing Driver as one of Hollywood’s leading actors. He reprised the role in the subsequent sequels, Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), solidifying his place in cinematic history. “These are movies that always inspired me, so to not only be a fan of them but an active participant has always been surreal,” Driver reflected.
Between Star Wars films, Driver took on roles in various acclaimed projects, including starring in Jim Jarmusch’s Paterson (2016) and Martin Scorsese’s Silence (2016), while also appearing in Logan Lucky (2017). In 2018, Driver received critical acclaim for his role in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, portraying Flip Zimmerman, a detective who infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan. The performance earned him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor.
Continued Success in Film and Theater
Driver’s success continued in 2019 with his acclaimed role in Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, in which he portrayed Charlie Barber, a divorcing father. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, including a Best Actor nomination for Driver’s powerful performance. The same year, he also starred in several other notable films, including The Dead Don’t Die, The Report, and Burn This on Broadway, where he earned praise for his performance in the revival of Lanford Wilson’s play.
In 2021, Driver appeared in three major films: the musical Annette, Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel, and the crime drama House of Gucci, in which he portrayed Maurizio Gucci. His role in House of Gucci earned him further recognition and solidified his standing as a versatile actor. Driver continued to showcase his range with a starring role in Noah Baumbach’s White Noise (2022), a dark comedy in which he played Jack Gladney, a father in a blended family. His performance earned him a third Golden Globe nomination.
Through his diverse roles across film, television, and theater, Driver has become one of the most respected and sought-after actors of his generation.
New Movies: 65 and Ferrari
In 2023, Adam Driver took on two prominent roles in films. He starred as a pilot in 65, a science-fiction thriller in which his character travels to Earth 65 million years ago, only to find himself fighting for survival against dinosaurs. The film, released in March, received mixed reviews from critics.
Later in the year, Driver portrayed Enzo Ferrari in Ferrari, a biographical drama released on Christmas Day. The film centers on the Italian automaker’s struggles in 1957, as both his personal life and his company teeter on the edge of ruin. Director Michael Mann, who quickly zeroed in on Driver for the role, praised his commitment to the part. “I sensed, sitting across from him at a table at Chateau Marmont, the tone, the artistic integrity,” Mann shared. “You see it in somebody’s eyes if you’re a director, that dedication, the commitment. Adam’s absolutely the real deal.”
How Tall is Adam Driver?
Known for his commanding presence on screen, Adam Driver stands at approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall, which contributes to his striking roles in both film and theater.
Wife and Child
Driver met actress Joanne Tucker while attending Juilliard, where Tucker was a drama student and graduated in 2009. The couple married in 2013. They have worked together both on and offscreen, with Tucker appearing in the 2019 film The Report, alongside Driver, and the TV series Girls. The pair co-founded Arts in the Armed Forces, a nonprofit organization that brings theater performances to military communities. Tucker has also appeared in Give or Take (2020) and American Rust (2021).
The couple is notably private about their personal lives. They welcomed their first child, a son, in 2016, but kept the birth a secret until it was reported by Page Six in 2018. Driver confirmed fatherhood in a 2019 The New Yorker profile, discussing his preference for privacy. “My job is to be a spy—to be in public and live life and have experience. But when you feel like you’re the focus, it’s really hard to do that,” he explained. To this day, the couple has not revealed their son’s name. In February 2023, Page Six reported that Tucker was expecting their second child, but there has been no official confirmation from the couple.
Net Worth
As of recent estimates, Adam Driver’s net worth is approximately $16 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.