Despite their tumultuous divorce, Hollywood stars Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are now considered one of the best examples of successful co-parenting. In a new interview, the actress did not hold back her words of praise for her ex-husband, calling him an "incredible parenting partner" and revealing that it was his support that allowed her to accept the role in the new series "Five Star Weekend."
Garner, who has children Violet (20), Seraphina (17) and Samuel (13) with Affleck, explained in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that she initially did not want to accept the offer because filming would have taken four months in Nova Scotia, far from her children.
"When they offered me the role, we were supposed to shoot in Nova Scotia. I told them, 'I'd love to do it, but I almost always shoot in Los Angeles. I have three teenagers and I can't leave them for four months. It's just not worth it to me,'" the actress said.
The change came when production changed plans.
After the producers decided to shoot most of the filming in Los Angeles, with only a month in Nantucket, Garner decided to accept the role.
"I knew then that the children could stay with their father," she said.
She said of Affleck that he is "wonderful" and that he takes full care of their children.
"He takes care of them. He's a great partner in that sense. It really gives me a sense of freedom," Garner added.
She deliberately put her career on the back burner.
The actress revealed that when her children were younger, she consciously limited her career to spend as much time with them as possible.
"There's a period in life when you're completely dedicated to it. And that's totally okay. Nothing lasts forever. It's a phase of life and it's wonderful. I wouldn't trade a single minute of that experience," Garner said.
She added that now, when the children are already teenagers, the situation is very different.
"My children are older now, and their father has become a truly amazing partner in parenting," the actress noted.
She used to not want to be separated from her children.
Garner admitted that when the children were young, she wouldn't accept longer shoots without them.
"I would never have filmed for two weeks if I hadn't brought them with me," she revealed.
But now that they're grown, that's no longer practical, and thanks to Affleck, he can go on set with peace of mind, knowing that they're in safe hands.
The love story ended, but parenthood continued.
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck met in 2000 while filming the movie "Pearl Harbor" and got married in 2005.
After ten years of marriage, they announced their separation in 2015, while the divorce was officially finalized in 2018.
Despite the difficult period they went through, the two managed to build a stable relationship in the interests of their three children.
Praise for Father's Day too
This isn't the first time Garner has publicly praised her ex-husband.
Last month, on the occasion of Father's Day, she sent him an emotional message on Instagram.
"I see how much my children adore their father and I am truly happy for them. To love and be loved by a great father is a true gift," the actress wrote.
Her latest statements show once again that, although their marriage ended years ago, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have managed to build a healthy relationship as parents, putting the well-being of their children above all else.
