Topics: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Celebrity, US News, Sex and Relationships
Despite their recent divorce, it sounds as though Ben Affleck has nothing but praise for his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez.
In one of his first interviews since the shock split was announced back in August, the actor made a heartwarming admission about his former flame.
'Bennifer' fans hoped and prayed that when the celebrity power couple rekindled their noughties romance in 2022 they'd be able to make it in the long run.
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Sadly, however, after less than two years of marriage, J.Lo filed for divorce from her fourth husband back in April - though the announcement wasn't made public until four months later - citing 'irreconcilable differences' as her reasoning.
The news didn't come as much of a surprise for many die-hard fans of the pair, with rumours having circulated about alleged trouble in paradise for several months prior.
As well as speculation that they'd put their 12-bedroom, 24-bathroom California mansion on the market before the split was announced, the pair were absent from one another's public appearances - and made numerous solo trips abroad - in the weeks leading up to it.
What has left fans rather astounded, however, is how amicable Ben and Jennifer's break-up appears to have been.
So much so, that the Gone Girl frontman, 54, has recently made a pretty gushy statement to Entertainment Tonight about 55-year-old Jennifer's performance in her upcoming film Unstoppable.
Discussing the release of the sport-drama movie - in which Jennifer plays the leading lady role and Ben worked as a producer - he said: "Unstoppable is a very different movie than this but in a way, it's similarly rooted in the passion of really talented artists.
"Goldenberg and Jennifer and Don Cheadle and Jharrel, and Bobby Cannavale - all were really passionate about this film."
He went on to express an emotional connection to the true story being told - that of university amateur wrestler Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg and yet becomes a sporting champion - adding that, 'Jennifer is spectacular'.
Jennifer will take on the role of Robles' mother Judy in the production, in which she stars alongside the likes of Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña and Don Cheadle.
Ben's admission comes not long after Jennifer lifted the lid on her most recent divorce.
In a chat with Interview Magazine, the 'Jenny From the Block' singer described the split as the 'hardest time of my life' before going on to emphasise the importance of keeping up a good relationship with yourself amid distress.
She said: "You have to be good on your own. I thought I learned that, but I didn’t. And then, this summer, I had to be like, 'I need to go off and be on my own. I want to prove to myself that I can do that'."
Admitting that the process was 'f**king hard', Jennifer added: "It feels lonely, unfamiliar, scary. It feels sad. It feels desperate.
"But when you sit in those feelings and go, 'These things are not going to kill me', it’s like actually, I am capable of joy and happiness all by myself."
She also went on to say that she hopes her failed relationships won't 'define her'.
"I can’t be looking for happiness in other people. I have to have happiness within myself," Jennifer continued. "I used to say I’m a happy person, but was still looking for something for somebody else to fill, and it’s just like, 'No, I’m actually good'."
