At a Glance
- Ben Affleck says he and Jennifer Garner refuse to pressure their three children into acting careers
- The Oscar winner calls fame a “complicated” burden they don’t want to place on Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, or Samuel, 13
- Why it matters: Celebrity parents are increasingly rejecting the tradition of steering children into the family business
Ben Affleck has drawn a firm line when it comes to his children’s futures. Despite his own decades-long Hollywood success, the actor-director insists he and ex-wife Jennifer Garner are deliberately stepping back to let their kids forge their own paths.
The revelation came during a red-carpet interview at The Rip world premiere on January 13, where Affleck, 53, addressed whether Violet, Seraphina, or Samuel might follow their famous parents into show business.
No Pressure Policy
“You put something on your children when you have a public life and that’s complicated,” Affleck told E! News. “We really want to give them room to figure out what they want to do.”
That space includes refusing to nudge them toward the family trade. Affleck was blunt about his stance:
- “I wouldn’t push them into that”
- “They’re brilliant and lovely and wonderful and we love them”
- “Hope that they don’t waste their life acting”
The comment drew laughter from reporters, but Affleck’s underlying message was clear: fame carries a weight he’d rather his children avoid unless they actively choose it.
A Different Childhood
Affleck contrasted his kids’ upbringing with his own modest beginnings in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Growing up, he and friend Matt Damon navigated anonymous auditions and small roles before Good Will Hunting catapulted them to stardom in 1997.
“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,” he reflected.
That anonymity disappeared once he and Garner became one of Hollywood’s most photographed couples. Paparazzi routinely trailed their family outings, school drop-offs, and vacations. Affleck has previously described aggressive photographers trailing his children as “wrong” and “disgusting.”
Garner’s Parallel View
Garner, 53, echoed her ex-husband’s hands-off approach in a recent Marie Claire UK interview. The Alias star said modern parenting requires restraint.
“Parenting now has shifted. It’s more about parenting with a button on my mouth,” she explained. “You have to let them grow up and make their choices. You don’t get to control it.”
Garner gushed about her offspring’s personalities: “They’re just so cool!” She described stepping back as both necessary and bittersweet as the children navigate early adulthood.
Violet’s Emerging Voice
While Affleck won’t steer his children toward Hollywood, he’s openly celebrated their achievements. In September, the actor praised Violet’s speech at the United Nations addressing COVID-19’s long-term impact on children.
“I could not be more proud of my children,” he told Access Hollywood in October. “I can’t even tell you.”
He noted Violet takes after her mother, calling her “spectacular” and adding, “I’m very lucky that I’ve got a great partner and that we got great kids. It’s the joy of my life.”
That appearance marked a rare moment where Affleck discussed his children publicly, typically keeping family matters private despite intense media interest.
Co-Parenting After Divorce
Affleck and Garner married in 2005, separated in 2015, and finalized their divorce in 2018. Both have since spoken about prioritizing their children’s wellbeing during the transition.
Garner told Marie Claire UK that dissolving their marriage proved harder than expected. “The actual breaking up of a family is what was hard,” she said. “Losing a true partnership and friendship is what was hard.”
Despite the split, the actors routinely attend school events, sports games, and milestone celebrations together. Photographers have captured them chatting amicably at graduation ceremonies and birthday parties.
Hollywood’s Next Generation
Affleck’s stance places him among a growing cohort of celebrity parents rejecting assumptions that their children will automatically enter the entertainment industry.
Actors including Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington, and Julia Roberts have similarly stated they discourage their kids from acting unless passion drives them. The industry’s intense scrutiny, unpredictable income, and high rejection rates make it a challenging career path even for connected offspring.
Should any of the Affleck-Garner children pursue performing, they’d enter auditions with impressive lineage. Both parents boast multiple award wins and decades of box-office hits. Garner earned four Emmy nominations for Alias and has balanced blockbuster films with intimate independent projects. Affleck won Oscars for writing Good Will Hunting and producing Argo, which he directed.
Keeping Kids Grounded
For now, the parents focus on ensuring normalcy. Affleck has coached his children’s sports teams and attended school plays without fanfare. Garner regularly volunteers at their schools and takes them to farmers markets in Los Angeles.
Both actors have described parenthood as their proudest accomplishment. Affleck called his children “the joy of my life” and said they “make me happy every day.”
That happiness includes accepting uncertainty about their futures. Whether Violet, Seraphina, or Samuel choose college, travel, trades, or the arts, their parents vow to support them.
“We really want to give them room to figure out what they want to do,” Affleck repeated. That room, he implied, includes the freedom to skip red carpets entirely if they prefer.
Key Takeaways
- Affleck and Garner deliberately avoid pressuring their children into Hollywood careers
- Both parents describe their kids as thriving individuals making independent choices
- The actors continue co-parenting amicably years after their divorce
- Affleck calls fame a “complicated” burden he won’t force on his children
