In a rare and deeply personal interview, actress Jennifer Garner has offered a candid glimpse into the emotional aftermath of her highly publicized divorce from fellow actor and director Ben Affleck. Speaking to Marie Claire UK, Garner reflected on the 2015 separation that ended their decade-long marriage, focusing not on the media frenzy but on the profound personal loss.
The Real Hardship Wasn't the Headlines
Garner was clear about the distinction between public perception and private pain. "You have to be smart about what you can and can't handle, and I could not handle what was out there," she told the magazine, referencing the intense tabloid coverage. However, she emphasized that the gossip was not the core of her struggle.
"But what was out there was not what was hard. The fact of it is what was hard," Garner explained. "The actual breaking up of a family is what was hard. Losing a true partnership and friendship is what was hard." The couple, married from 2005 to 2015, officially finalized their divorce in 2018. They co-parent three children: Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel.
Affleck's Profound Regret and Moving Forward
Garner's reflections echo sentiments previously shared by Ben Affleck, who has been openly remorseful about the divorce. In a 2020 interview with The New York Times, the "Argo" director called it "the biggest regret of my life." He spoke about the toxic nature of shame in the aftermath, stating, "There is no positive byproduct of shame. It's just stewing in a toxic, hideous feeling of low self-worth and self-loathing."
Despite the end of their marriage, both actors have maintained an amicable relationship focused on their family. Their split stands in contrast to Affleck's more recent marriage to Jennifer Lopez, which began in 2022 and ended in divorce finalized in January 2025. Affleck has characterized that separation as lacking drama or scandal, telling GQ it was simply "a story about people trying to figure out their lives and relationships in ways that we all sort of normally do."
A Look at Their Relationship History
Before marrying Affleck, Jennifer Garner was married to actor Scott Foley; they divorced in 2004. The journey of Garner and Affleck, from a Hollywood power couple to co-parents navigating a respectful post-divorce relationship, continues to resonate as a narrative of managing personal heartbreak under the relentless public eye.
Their story underscores a universal truth often lost in celebrity coverage: that beyond the headlines and photos, the dissolution of a marriage and family unit represents a profound emotional challenge, regardless of fame or fortune.
