Ben Affleck Talks Family With Jennifer Garner: “I’m The Luckiest Guy In The World”

Ben Affleck has the perfect family. The actor/director has one of those rare examples of a successful Hollywood matrimony with wife Jennifer Garner, and family life hasn’t worn on him. He wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Though Affleck was first a media darling and tabloid target during his highly-publicized courtship with Jennifer Lopez between 2002 and 2004, since settling down with Daredevil co-star and actress Jennifer Garner, things have been pretty quiet for Affleck, and he has managed to stay away from the media, for the most part.

“I definitely was in a tabloid crosshair,” he said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “It mucks up your life.”

Affleck was on the cover of nearly every magazine back when he was with JLo, which was right around the time that people really started taking an interest in the personal lives of celebrities, noted the Huffington Post. Entertainment media exploded, especially with the 24/7 coverage of the Internet, and Affleck & JLo were kind of like entertainment media guinea pigs. Despite that “honor”, Affleck has managed a relatively private life with Jennifer Garner, and it seems to be working for him.

Affleck has always been wary of media attention. Remarking on the past coverage, he found it “sort of snarky and venal and kind of overwhelming,” but it wasn’t the media that changed. It was Affleck. Settling down with Jennifer Garner, having three kids, and setting aside his hectic work schedule in favor of family time.

He still makes public appearances, still lobbies for political causes that he’s passionate about, still acts, but mostly seems to favor the director’s seat these days. Any criticisms pointed at Affleck’s acting in the past are remedied by the acclaim he has won for his directorial vision. Gone Baby Gone and The Town received praise, and his upcoming effort Argolooks to continue Affleck’s surge.

“I feel like I have a chance to do the most exciting stuff that I’ve done in my career,” he said. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”