Ben Affleck is full of admiration for Jennifer Lopez’s latest performance. The “Gone Girl” actor attended the New York City screening of “Kiss of the Spider Woman” on October 6, where he couldn’t stop praising his ex-wife’s work in the upcoming musical-thriller.
(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)“Jennifer is incredible in this movie,” Affleck told E! News. “She’s fabulous. And it’s an enormously difficult—it’s all these masters, so it’s not edited in such a way where you can make a little mistake here and there in the dance. It’s singing and dancing and acting, and also trying to hold together these multiple tones in the movie. That’s probably the maximum level of difficulty for a performer.”
Affleck went on to call her performance one of her best yet. “She pulls it off with grace and aplomb, and she’s wonderful,” he said. “I love her performance in the movie. She’s amazing, spectacular, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”
The actor, who also co-produced the film through his company Artists Equity with Matt Damon, made it clear that his respect for Lopez’s talent runs deep — both as an artist and as a collaborator.
A Role Jennifer Lopez Was ‘Born to Play‘
Affleck revealed that the part of Ingrid Luna in “Kiss of the Spider Woman” had been a long time coming for Lopez. “This role, she was just clearly born to play,” he said. “It’s a genre that she’s always wanted to do her whole life.”
The film, directed by Bill Condon, also stars Diego Luna and Tonatiuh. Affleck noted that casting Lopez was “a no-brainer,” praising her dedication and artistry in the challenging role.
Why Ben Affleck Wanted to Produce the Movie
(Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)Beyond his support for Lopez, Affleck also served as a producer on the film through Artists Equity, the production company he co-founded with Matt Damon. He said the company’s mission is to champion ambitious films that might otherwise struggle to find funding.
“When we started Artists Equity, part of what we wanted to do was be a financier of movies and produce movies that we really believed in, that we saw had real potential that maybe other people wouldn’t,” Affleck explained. “I think the business has become more gun-shy in some ways—people going to the theater less, and all sorts of reasons.”
Affleck added, “I’m hugely proud of it. The audience is going to respond hugely to it. And I can’t wait for people to see it.”
Slaven Vlasic/Getty ImagesDespite their divorce, Ben Affleck’s admiration for Jennifer Lopez remains unmistakable. The couple finalized their split in January after three years of marriage, yet the actor continues to speak about his ex with warmth, respect, and gratitude.
“For the record, Jennifer Lopez is spectacular,” Affleck told Entertainment Tonight in April. “Great to my kids, great ongoing relationship with them. I love her kids. They’re wonderful. She’s an enormously important, tremendous person of a lot of integrity who I adore and am grateful to.”
Affleck, 53, shares three children — Violet, 19, Seraphina, 16, and Samuel, 13 — with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, while Lopez is mom to 17-year-old twins Max and Emme, whom she shares with Marc Anthony.
Now, with “Kiss of the Spider Woman” gearing up for release, both stars seem focused on their craft and continuing to support each other’s success. For Affleck and Lopez, the respect they share goes beyond their past: it’s rooted in years of friendship, collaboration, and genuine admiration.
