Hollywood star Jennifer Garner has candidly spoken about the profound difficulty of ending her marriage to actor Ben Affleck, describing the split as the painful breaking up of a family. In a new, revealing interview, the actress reflected on the challenges of their 2015 separation and the unexpected journey back to friendship.
The Pain of a Public Split and Family Breakup
Garner, who was married to Affleck for 13 years, confessed that navigating the public scrutiny was overwhelming. "You have to be smart about what you can and can’t handle, and I could not handle what was out there," she stated. However, she emphasised that the media frenzy was not the core issue. "The fact of it is what was hard. The actual breaking up of a family is what was hard. Losing a true partnership and friendship is what was hard," Garner revealed in her interview with Marie Claire UK.
The couple, who finalised their divorce in 2018, share three children: Violet, Fin, and Samuel. Garner admitted that public attention remains "the hardest thing" for her family, clarifying that while it's not a global tragedy, it is "tricky for me and tricky for my family." She maintains a strict policy of ignoring gossip, especially concerning her children.
Co-Parenting: A Partnership Regained Through Time
Despite the initial heartbreak, Garner shared a message of hope regarding post-divorce dynamics. She expressed surprise and gratitude at the cooperative relationship she and Affleck have rebuilt for their kids' sake. "I’m able to co-parent at this point in time with peace and equanimity and a partnership that I didn’t know I would ever get back to," she said.
Garner offered advice to others in similar situations, highlighting the healing power of time. "I think it’s important for women to know... time is the opportunity. Time is the opportunity to heal. Time is the opportunity to forgive, to move on and to find a new way to be friends." This renewed friendship was evident when Garner famously supported Affleck after his own split from Jennifer Lopez in 2025.
Life After Divorce: Career, Love, and Pride
On the personal front, Garner was cryptic about her relationship with businessman John C Miller, simply saying, "I have so much love in my life." Ben Affleck rekindled his romance with singer-actress Jennifer Lopez, marrying her before their separation a couple of years later.
Garner, who took a significant step back from her career to raise her children, declared them her proudest achievement. "It never felt like a sacrifice. It was really hard to go to work and it definitely shaped the jobs I chose, in a big way," she explained. Professionally, she recently returned as Elektra in 2023's Deadpool & Wolverine. Fans can next see her in The Last Thing He Told Me season 2 and the series The Five-Star Weekend.
