Ben Affleck says he’s connected to ex Jennifer Garner ‘forever’ and is ‘lucky’ she’s mom to his kids

He separated from wife Jennifer Garner in 2015 after a decade of marriage and three children together.

And Ben Affleck has admitted that he is fortunate to be connected ‘forever’ to the actress.

The 47-year-old actor was candid about his struggle with addiction and relationship with his ex-wife, also 47, in a new interview published in the pages of People magazine released on Wednesday.

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Not holding back: Ben Affleck (seen in Miami last week) was candid about his struggle with addiction and relationship with his ex-wife, also 47, in a new interview published in the pages of People magazine released on Wednesday

Squad: The former couple share daughters Violet, 14 and Seraphina, 11 along with seven-year-old Samuel, the family are seen together in LA back in June

Squad: The former couple share daughters Violet, 14 and Seraphina, 11 along with seven-year-old Samuel, the family are seen together in LA back in June

The former couple have three children together; Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11 and Samuel, seven and Affleck works hard on co-parenting harmoniously with his ex-wife.

He said: ‘When you have children with somebody you’re connected to them forever.

‘And I’m very lucky she is the mother of my children.’

He also touched on his battle with alcoholism and sobriety including his painful family history with it but gushed about Garner’s support throughout his struggles.

'I’m very lucky she is the mother of my children': The 47-year-old actor gushed about his 47-year-old ex's parental skills in the interview, as she is seen with son Samuel on Tuesday

‘I’m very lucky she is the mother of my children’: The 47-year-old actor gushed about his 47-year-old ex’s parental skills in the interview, as she is seen with son Samuel on Tuesday 

Affleck said: ‘I’m very grateful and respectful of her. Our marriage didn’t work, and that’s difficult. 

‘Both of us really believe that it’s important for kids to see their parents respect one another and get along, whether they’re together or not.’

Affleck recently spoke openly about his divorce from Garner being ‘the biggest regret of my life’ in an interview published by The New York Times.

Family first: Ben said: 'Both of us really believe that it’s important for kids to see their parents respect one another and get along, whether they’re together or not'

Family first: Ben said: ‘Both of us really believe that it’s important for kids to see their parents respect one another and get along, whether they’re together or not’

The pair married in 2005 and separated in 2015 with reports of Affleck having an affair with the family’s nanny, Christine Ouzounian, emerging days after news of the split. 

After their divorce in 2018, Garner spoke out to insist that the nanny had nothing to do with the couple’s decision to separate. 

‘Let me just tell you something,’ Garner told Vanity Fair. ‘We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny. She had nothing to with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation.’ 

'I have regrets' Reflecting on his past, Affleck was very open about his relationship with Garner during a Diane Sawyer interview on Good Morning America last week

‘I have regrets’ Reflecting on his past, Affleck was very open about his relationship with Garner during a Diane Sawyer interview on Good Morning America last week 

Reflecting on his past, Affleck also told Diane Sawyer in a Good Morning America interview last week: ‘There are things that I would love to go back and change. I have regrets,

‘I have made plenty of mistakes, some big some small. I wish I could go back in time and change all kinds of things but I can’t.’

The two have been working hard to co-parent and remain a united unit together especially when it comes to their faith. 

‘I go to church with my kids – because it was important to Jennifer. And now I go, too, and I like it quite a bit,’ he said.

Better days: The pair (seen in January 2007) married in 2005 and separated in 2015 amid speculation he had been having an affair with their nanny ultimately divorcing three years later

Better days: The pair (seen in January 2007) married in 2005 and separated in 2015 amid speculation he had been having an affair with their nanny ultimately divorcing three years later

‘I’d like to find some sort of sense of meaning and purpose.’ he added. 

‘I’m enormously lucky. I have three of the most fabulous children you’ll ever see,’ he said. ‘I love them to death. They’re my joy. They’re my life.’

 The actor is opening up about his battles while promoting his new film The Way Back, in which he plays Jack Cunningham, a high school basketball coach fighting alcoholism.

The sports drama film directed by Gavin O’Connor is set for release on May 6 in the US with a UK release following on 24 April. 

Redemption story: The star's latest film The Way Back is set for release on May 6 in the US with a UK release following on 24 April

Redemption story: The star’s latest film The Way Back is set for release on May 6 in the US with a UK release following on 24 April