Ben Affleck reveals how his divorce from Jennifer Garner helped him become a better actor

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were once known as one of Hollywood’s golden acting couples. Having met in 2000 on the set of Michael Bay film Pearl Harbor, Ben and Jennifer’s relationship went from strength to strength and they tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony in 2005 in Turks and Caicos. They are proud parents to three children, Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel. 

Fans of the couple were no doubt shocked in 2015 when it was announced that the couple were separating. They went on to officially divorce three years later. Now, reflecting back on his divorce and other life experiences, Ben has shared his belief that they shaped his current acting skills. 

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he discussed the real-life trials and experiences that influenced his performance in The Way Back. This film brought him career-best reviews. As Ben described to The Hollywood Reporter: “I’m a recovering alcoholic and I played an alcoholic in the movie”. 

Ben continued: “But for me, the movie was much more about the fact that — whether it's having lived enough years, having seen enough ups and downs, having had children and divorce — I'm at a point now in my life where I have sufficient life experience to bring to a role to make it really interesting for me.

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“I'm not good enough to just invent it from whole cloth, you know? I didn't have to do research for the alcoholism aspect of the movie — that was covered.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ben also explained that as he’s grown older and had these life experiences, he finds himself drawn to different roles.

“Growing older and having had more intense personal experiences has made acting much more interesting, and made me drawn to the kinds of movies about people who are flawed”, he said.

Do Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner talk?

Despite their divorce in 2018, it’s thought that former couple Ben and Jennifer are still close. Following Ben’s breakup with his girlfriend Ana de Armas last month, Jennifer was reportedly very supportive.

"Ben is happy, healthy and doing great since his breakup with Ana," a source told ET. "Ben’s friends and Jen Garner are supportive of him moving on. Those close to Ben thought the relationship wasn’t working for either of them anymore." 

"For now, he’s taking care of himself and focused on his kids," they added.

The couple remain devoted parents to their three children.