Ben Affleck Shares Thoughts on His Kids Pursuing Acting: Why He Wouldn’t Encourage It
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck with their children: Violet Affleck, Seraphina, and Samuel.
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Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage; Albert L. Ortega/Getty
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Emphasize Independence for Their Children
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have made it clear that they are not encouraging their three children to pursue careers in acting or the entertainment industry. The couple shares three children: Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13.
At the world premiere of The Rip on January 13, Affleck, 53, expressed his desire for their children to have the freedom to choose their own paths. "You put something on your children when you have a public life and that’s complicated," he remarked. "We really want to give them room to figure out what they want to do."
Affleck emphasized, "I wouldn’t push them into that. They’re brilliant and lovely and wonderful and we love them and we’re proud of them," but added humorously, "and hope that they don’t waste their life acting."
Reflecting on their differing upbringings, Affleck noted, "In some way, it was kind of a blessing to anonymity, to struggle, to where we started, which was just in the middle of nowhere."
Samuel and Ben Affleck in Los Angeles, California, on December 13, 2022.
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In a conversation with Access Hollywood in October, Affleck praised his eldest daughter, saying, “[Violet] takes after her mom. She’s spectacular.” He also had pride in her notable testimony at the United Nations in September, where she spoke about the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children. "I could not be more proud of my children. I can’t even tell you," Affleck stated. "And I’m very lucky that I’ve got a great partner and that we got great kids. It’s the joy of my life, and I’m just very, very lucky. And it makes me happy every day."
Affleck’s comments echo those of Garner, who previously highlighted their children’s individuality in an interview with Marie Claire UK. "They’re just so cool! […] You have to let them grow up and make their choices. You don’t get to control it," she emphasized.
Violet Affleck and Jennifer Garner at a state dinner in Washington, DC, on December 1, 2022.
Sarah Silbiger/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty
Garner also spoke candidly about the challenges surrounding their family dynamics following their divorce, stating, "The actual breaking up of a family is what was hard." The couple married in 2005, announced their separation in 2015, and finalized their divorce in 2018. Garner reflected, "Losing a true partnership and friendship is what was hard.”
