British actress Minnie Driver (35) arrived in Nuku'alofa on July 12 for a 13-day filming assignment in Tongatapu, Ha'apai and Vava'u.

She is visiting Tonga with a eight-member crew from Princess Production, a British film company, to shoot an adventure travel documentary, called "Journey of a Life Time".

After a brief stop over at Nuku'alofa, Minnie and her crew left for Ha'apai, where they will stay for a week and then go to Vava'u for four days before returning to Tongatapu to go home on Saturday July 23.

In Ha'’apai Minnie planned to visit the island of Nomuka, and was going to learn how to cook in the Tongan style of using the traditional underground oven, the 'umu.

They also planned a boat trip to the volcanic island of Tofua with a visit to the volcanic lake, and later to climb the nearby island of Kao.

In Vava'’u they wanted to go sailing, kayaking, snorkeling and swim with humpback whales.

Minnie first claimed Hollywood fame in 1997 for her performance in the film 'Good Will Hunting', starring Hollywood hunks Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Minnie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'Good Will Hunting'.

Minnie has starred in 20 films since gaining public attention in her role in the 1995 film, 'Circle of Friends'.

For their travel adventure series, Princess Productions wanted Minnie to experience real life in Tonga by meeting and staying with local people, experiencing the culture, the water sports and Tonga's remote islands.