Jennifer Garner called ex-husband Ben Affleck an “incredible co-parent” to their three kids.
The “Five Star Weekend” star — who shares Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13, with the actor — told Entertainment Weekly that she was only able to take on her role in the new Peacock series because of Affleck’s help.
“When it was offered to me, it was supposed to shoot, I think, in Nova Scotia,” explained Garner, who portrays Hollis Shaw on the show, a food influencer who is grieving the loss of her husband.
“I said, ‘I would love to do it, but like everything, I really only work in LA. I have three teenagers, and I can’t leave for four months. It’s just not worth it to me.’”
When the producers came back to her with a plan to shoot mostly in Los Angeles, with the exception of one month in Nantucket, Garner changed her mind.
“They can stay with their dad,” Garner, 54, said, calling Affleck, 53, “wonderful.”
“He takes care of them,” she continued. “He’s a great partner in that way. And so that’s very freeing.”
The former couple met on the set of “Pearl Harbor” in 2000 and married five years later. They separated in 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2018.
When her kids were younger, Garner deliberately scaled back her work to spend time with them.
“There is a time in your life where you just do get caught up in all of that. And that’s OK. Nothing is forever,” she explained.
“That’s a season. And it’s a beautiful thing. And I wouldn’t trade a minute of it. But I feel like my kids are a little bigger [now]. Their dad has become this incredible co-parent.”
The “Alias” star explained that when her children were younger, she strictly curtailed filming.
“I wouldn’t have done a couple of weeks without taking them with me,” she shared, noting that as they’ve aged, that’s no longer feasible, but now she’s able to leave on shoots because of Affleck.
Last month, Garner also praised Affleck on Father’s Day, writing on Instagram, “I see the way my kids dote on their dad, and I’m happy for them. To love and be loved by a great dad is a gift.”
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