Nothing was off limits during Vanity Fair‘s interview, which covered everything from the pain of her divorce, putting her kids first, and even what she thinks of Ben’s huge back tattoo.
In June last year, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck – who have children Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Sam, 4, together – announced their plans to divorce just one day after their 10th wedding anniversary.
A month later, explosive reports in global media accused Ben of having an affair with the children’s 28-year-old nanny, Christine Ouzounian.
Jen was quick to reveal that the couple’s nanny was not solely responsible for the demise of their marriage.
“We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny,” she said.
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“She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes.”
Jen and Ben pictured two months before their split was announced.
At the time, Ben, 43, called the report “garbage”.
“He’s still the only person who really knows the truth about things. And I’m still the only person that knows some of his truths,” Jen says candidly.
“It was a real marriage. It wasn’t for the cameras. And it was a huge priority for me to stay in it. And that did not work.”
But don’t feel sorry for Jen – she’s doing just fine.
“No one needs to hate him for me. I don’t hate him. Certainly we don’t have to beat the guy up,” she says. “I didn’t marry the big fat movie star; I married him. And I would go back and remake that decision. I ran down the beach to him, and I would again. You can’t have these three babies and so much of what we had.”
From a happier time! The couple pictured together in 2003.
When it comes to moving on and finding her happiness, she tells the magazine that the task is ultimately up to her.
“It’s not Ben’s job to make me happy. The main thing is these kids—and we’re completely in line with what we hope for them,” she says.
“Sure, I lost the dream of dancing with my husband at my daughter’s wedding. But you should see their faces when he walks through the door. And if you see your kids love someone so purely and wholly, then you’re going to be friends with that person.”
Family day out: Mum and Dad spotted with kids Violet Affleck and Samuel Affleck.
Despite the emotional trauma Jen has suffered throughout the past couple of months, she hasn’t lost her sense of humour.
She concludes her telling interview on a slightly comical note by taking a subtle dig at her ex’s new tattoo of a rising pheonix.
“Bless his heart,” she says (a common southern American way to politely indicate that someone is being silly). “And I am the ashes?” she joked. “I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes.”
Ben’s new ink is unmissable…
