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Jennifer Garner is opening up about one of the most difficult chapters of her life: her divorce from Ben Affleck.
In a rare and candid interview with Marie Claire UK, the actress, 53, reflected on the emotional toll of her split from Affleck, whom she divorced after a decade of marriage. While public scrutiny surrounded the breakup, Garner said the real hardship was far more personal.
"You have to be smart about what you can and can't handle, and I could not handle what was out there," she explained. "But what was out there wasn't what was hard. The fact of it was what was hard. The actual breaking up of a family is what was hard."
Garner and Affleck, both 53, separated in 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2018. They share three children: Violet Anne, 20, Seraphina Rose, 17, and Samuel, 13. According to Garner, losing the day-to-day partnership they once shared was especially painful.
"Losing a true partnership and friendship is what was hard," she added.
Following the split, the Alias alum leaned heavily on her support system. She said making a conscious effort to stay connected to close friends and loved ones helped her rebuild resilience during a challenging period.
"That's where your resilience is," Garner said. "It's in your relationships and in the people who carry you through."
Today, Garner balances her acting career with advocacy work and motherhood. She is currently preparing for the second season of her Apple TV+ series The Last Thing He Told Me and continues her involvement with organizations including Save the Children and Once Upon a Farm.
Garner also shared how parenting has evolved as her children grow older, noting that letting go of control has been a learning experience. "You have to let them grow up and make their own choices," she said.
Despite the difficulties of co-parenting in the public eye, Garner said she and Affleck have reached a place of stability and mutual respect. She described their co-parenting relationship as "tricky," but one that now works for their family.
Season two of The Last Thing He Told Me premieres February 20 on Apple TV+, with Garner also set to appear in Peacock's upcoming drama The Five-Star Weekend.
