Ben Affleck has opened up about why he doesn’t envision a Hollywood future for his three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, revealing that he hopes they choose paths far removed from the spotlight.
Speaking at the world premiere of The Rip on Tuesday, January 13, the 53-year-old Oscar-winning actor told E! News that he has no intention of steering his children—Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13—toward acting or the entertainment industry.
“When you have a public life, you put something on your children, and that’s complicated,” Affleck said, explaining that he and Garner are focused on giving their kids the freedom to discover what they truly want to do.
Affleck emphasized that his parenting approach is rooted in encouragement rather than pressure. “I wouldn’t push them into that,” he said. “They’re brilliant and lovely and wonderful, and we’re incredibly proud of them,” before jokingly adding that he hopes they “don’t waste their life acting.”
Reflecting on his own upbringing, Affleck noted that growing up away from fame had its advantages. He described anonymity and early-life struggles as formative experiences that helped shape his perspective, suggesting that life outside the spotlight can be a blessing.
Jennifer Garner has shared similar views on parenting their now mostly grown children. In a recent interview with Marie Claire UK, the actress praised her kids and acknowledged that parenting older children requires learning when to step back.
“Parenting now has shifted,” Garner said. “It’s more about parenting with a button on my mouth. You have to let them grow up and make their own choices.”
Affleck and Garner, who married in 2005, separated in 2015, and finalized their divorce in 2018, continue to present a united front when it comes to co-parenting. As Garner previously noted, while the end of their marriage was difficult, their shared commitment to their children remains strong.
Together, the former couple’s message is clear: their priority is allowing their children to define their own futures—free from expectations, even those that come with famous parents.