Minnie No Phantom

If track records are any indication, "The Phantom of the Opera" should be a huge success on the silver screen. After all, it's the largest grossing stage production ever, taking in $3.2 billion worldwide since its 1986 debut.

Director Joel Schumacher and Warner Bros. bring Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega-hit to the big screen for the holiday season.

The haunting tale follows a disfigured musical genius who terrorizes a Paris opera company for the unwitting benefit of a young protege whom he loves.

Minnie Driver costars as the company's temperamental, volatile diva, LaCarlotta, and talks about her role on The Early Show on Tuesday.

Driver also released a pop/folk album, "Everything I've Got in My Pocket," in October.

According to the movie's official Web site, "The talented actress (is) known for her performances in the Oscar-winning drama Good Will Hunting and NBC's Emmy-lauded comedy Will & Grace.

Driver is quoted as saying, "In 1870, the diva of the opera house had the presence and effect of David Beckham, Madonna and Kylie Minogue all rolled into one. Carlotta is a huge presence, and in her mind everybody else exists as a satellite around her."

The site points out that, "though a talented singer in her own right, Driver did not perform her own singing for the film -- her part was voiced by professional opera singer Margaret Preece, who has performed the role onstage. Driver did, however, create additional dialogue in Italian to improvise Carlotta's vituperative rants."

Driver jokingly called in channeling her inner vida.

Tune into The Early Show Tuesday to catch all her comments.