Ben Affleck has spoken candidly about his struggles with alcoholism and his recent efforts to rebuild his career. In a rare, in-depth interview, the Oscar-winning actor and director discussed his relapse, divorce from Jennifer Garner, and the challenges of recovery.
Affleck, 47, admitted that his drinking escalated during the breakdown of his marriage in 2015 and 2016. 'I drank relatively normally for a long time. What happened was that I started drinking more and more when my marriage was falling apart,' he said. 'My drinking, of course, created more marital problems.'
The actor described the cycle of addiction as a 'vicious cycle' driven by a constant discomfort. 'People with compulsive behaviour, and I am one, have this kind of basic discomfort all the time that they’re trying to make go away,' he explained. 'You’re trying to make yourself feel better with eating or drinking or sex or gambling or shopping or whatever. But that ends up making your life worse.'
Affleck expressed deep regret over his divorce, calling it 'the biggest regret of my life.' He emphasised the importance of moving past shame, saying, 'Shame is really toxic. There is no positive byproduct of shame. It’s just stewing in a toxic, hideous feeling of low self-worth and self-loathing.'
On the professional front, Affleck has four films releasing this year, including 'The Way Back,' a sports drama about a high school basketball coach battling alcoholism. He acknowledged the uncertainty of his career comeback, noting that box office disappointments like 'Justice League' and 'Live by Night' have made him work harder.
Addressing past allegations of inappropriate behaviour, Affleck said, 'I acted inappropriately, and I sincerely apologise.' He has since completed work on the psychological thriller 'Deep Water' and is involved in other projects, including a film for Netflix.
