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    Donny Osmond surprises Jennifer Garner with birthday serenade, leaving star in awe

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    Jennifer Garner received quite a special gift ahead of turning the big 5-0.

    The actress, who turns 50 on Sunday, April 17, was overcome with emotion when her idol Donny Osmond surprised her with a video singing to her for her birthday.

    In a clip shared to her Instagram, Garner is sitting at a restaurant as she watches a video of Osmond singing to her on her phone. The moment becomes even more surreal when Osmond walks up right behind her chair and belts the rest of the lyrics in real-life.

    Garner immediately covers her face with her hands as she’s in awe. She then gets up, turns around and gives Osmond a hug.

    DONNY OSMOND ON SURVIVING CHILD STARDOM AFTER BEING CALLED A ‘HAS-BEEN’: ‘WASN’T GOING TO DO IT WITH SCANDALS’

    Osmond, 64, didn’t come empty-handed. He handed the actress a cake that said “13 going on 50” on it, in honor of one of the star’s most memorable movies, “13 Going on 30.”

    Jennifer Garner received quite the surprise from Donny Osmond ahead of her 50th birthday.  (Getty Images)

    The actress, with a big smile on her face, nervously shared that she was “so hot” she had to take her sweater off. Osmond then sits down and the two sing together at the table.

    “My first (pre)birthday surprise was a doozy— the one and only, legend in his own time, object of my childhood adoration and devotion— @donnyosmond showed up to knock my purple socks off,” Garner wrote in a caption of the post she shared on social media.

    “He took an hour and a half of his day to sit with me, sing my favorites, and to give me a master class on how to be a class act. Thank you, Donny. Hi, @marieosmond. I hope to meet you someday, Debbie,” she added.

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    Garner revealed earlier this year that her birthday, which falls on Easter, will be special because she’ll be joined by family.

    Donny Osmond gifted Jennifer Garner a cake inspired by her movie, “13 Going on 30.” (SGranitz/WireImage)

    “My family has tickets to come out. My parents and my sisters, nieces and nephews. I don’t know what we’ll do, but I can’t wait,” Garner told People magazine last month.

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    Jennifer Garner turns 50 on Sunday. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

    Garner shares three kids with ex-husband Ben Affleck: Violet, 16, Seraphina, 13, and Sam, 10. Affleck made headlines last week when Jennifer Lopez revealed he proposed for a second time.

    Celebrities provide coronavirus pandemic relief with donations

    Bunkered down at home or not, celebrities all over the world are stepping up to do what they can to combat the coronavirus pandemic by making charitable donations to those in need.

    As the numbers of those infected with COVID-19 rose to over 200,000 worldwide as of Wednesday morning, the world’s biggest performers have either made sizable donations or have utilized their already-existing businesses to provide relief.

    One of country music’s biggest stars, Brad Paisley, and his wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley own a free grocery store in Nashville they are using to deliver groceries.

    TOM HANKS, RITA WILSON OUT OF HOSPITAL FIVE DAYS AFTER ANNOUNCING CORONAVIRUS DIAGNOSIS: REPORT

    Called The Store, the Paisleys’ volunteer delivery service plans to deliver a week’s worth of groceries to elderly individuals in specific neighborhoods in the city, according to the Tennesseean.

    Meanwhile, singer Ciara and her husband Russell Wilson announced they have donated $1 million to a food bank called Food Lifeline in their community in Seattle, Wash.

    “The world needs us ALL. These are unprecedented times,” Ciara captioned a video of the couple announcing their donation, adding, “We can all make a difference together. Let’s all keep the Faith during this difficult time.”

    CORONAVIRUS HITS ROYALTY AS ARCHDUKE OF AUSTRIA, KARL VON HABSBURG, IS QUARANTINED AFTER TESTING POSITIVE

    On Monday, Ryan Reynolds took to his Twitter with the news that he and wife Blake Lively are donating $1 million total to be split between two organizations.

    “Covid-19 has brutally impacted older adults and low income families. Blake and I are donating $1 million to be split between FEEDING AMERICA and FOOD BANKS CANADA,” Reynolds wrote on Twitter. “Take care of your bodies and hearts. Leave room for joy. Call someone who’s isolated and might need connection.”

    The COVID-19 outbreak also hit close to home for Lady Gaga, a native New Yorker who also splits her time between her home state and Los Angeles, Calif. The pop star’s beauty brand, Haus Laboratories, announced it will be supporting the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and the Food Bank for New York City “in order to get food to those affected by the closing of schools & other places that offer this critical resource.”

    IDRIS ELBA, SOPHIE TRUDEAU POSED FOR A PHOTO TOGETHER DAYS BEFORE CORONAVIRUS DIAGNOSIS

    Memphis, Tenn. native Justin Timberlake reminded his Twitter followers to stay healthy and “stay calm” while stressing the importance of making sure everyone is fed.

    The “Suit and Tie” singer revealed Sunday he is donating to Mid-South Food Bank in his hometown to help assemble and deliver non-perishable food in the mid-south.

    “Every. little. thing. helps,” Timberlake added.

    Country singer Dierks Bentley announced the closing of his Nashville bar, Whiskey Row Nashville, this week along with plans to give his 90 hourly employees $1,000.

    “@riothospitalitygroup and I encourage all bar owners on Lower Broadway to take care of their bartenders, bar backs, waitresses, security, dishwashers etc the best they can,” he wrote on Instagram.

    STARS REACT TO IDRIS ELBA, ‘GAME OF THRONES’ ACTOR KRISTOFER HIVJU TESTING POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS

    Back in February, Justin Bieber centered his efforts on China, saying at the time that he “couldn’t imagine how scary it would be if a new disease was effecting my wife and my family and friends.”

    Bieber said he made a donation to the country and urged his followers to join in on the conversation.

    Meanwhile, other celebrities are doing their part by encouraging creative kids all over the world to interact with them on social media. “Frozen” actor Josh Gad, who voices the loveable snowman Olaf in the Disney franchise, has vowed to read children’s books each night to keep them entertained.

    TV SHOWS, MOVIES AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS: FROM ‘THE BATMAN’ TO ‘STRANGER THINGS’

    Jennifer Garner has also joined in on the fun by creating the hashtag #heyjenlookatme to inspire her followers to perform for her at home.

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    She also praised Broadway star Laura Benanti, who had a similar idea with the hashtag #SunshineSongs.

    Ben Affleck spotted dining with co-star Ana de Armas in Cuba

    Just weeks after admitting he regrets divorcing Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck surfaced in Cuba with his “Deep Water” co-star, Ana de Armas.

    Affleck, 47, and de Armas, 31, were spotted dining in Havana, where they stopped and smiled alongside fans and restaurant employees, pictures obtained by the Daily Mail show.

    The stars reportedly became close while filming the Adrian Lyne-directed drama “Deep Water,” which wrapped filming weeks ago.  According to the outlet, the two stars were spotted in more than one restaurant together and continued their getaway by leisurely shopping and walking around the streets of Havana.

    BEN AFFLECK’S INTERVIEWS ABOUT JENNIFER GARNER HAVE LEFT HER BOYFRIEND JOHN MILLER ‘UNCOMFORTABLE’: REPORT

    Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas both star in “Deep Water.”
    (AP, Getty)

    In one photo obtained by the outlet, the actor appeared to have his arm wrapped over de Armas’ shoulder as the duo were surrounded by nearly a dozen ecstatic fans. One onlooker told Us Weekly the two were also spotted having some fun inside a T-shirt shop.

    “It was just the two of them and their driver. Ben happily took photos with fans. Ben was in a very happy mood, making funny faces in selfies with fans,” said the eyewitness.

    De Armas is a native of Cuba and studied theater in Havana, according to her IMDB page.

    BEN AFFLECK THANKS EX-WIFE JENNIFER GARNER FOR BEING ‘THOUGHTFUL, CONSIDERATE, RESPONSIBLE’ IN PUBLIC NOTE

    Ana de Armas attends the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 5.
    (Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)

    She is best recognized for her role as Marta Cabrera in “Knives Out” and takes on the role of the next Bond girl in the upcoming James Bond film, “No Time to Die.” The highly-anticipated film’s release date was recently pushed back from April to November 2020 due to coronavirus fears.

    Affleck and de Armas’ “Deep Water” comes out November 13. The stars have reportedly been close since they began filming in New Orleans. One fan who spotted them months ago told the Daily Mail that Affleck spoke in Spanish to de Armas “all night long.”

    Ben Affleck revealed in a recent interview that divorcing Jennifer Garner is the “biggest regret” of his life.
    (Getty Images)

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    Affleck recently opened up about his ex-wife Garner during a series of interviews while promoting his new film “The Way Back.” In addition to calling his failed marriage to Garner the “biggest regret” of his life, the recovering alcoholic called himself “very lucky” to be able to call Garner the mother of his children, Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Samuel, 7.

    De Armas was reportedly married to actor Marc Clotet from 2011 until 2013.

    Ben Affleck spotted dining with co-star Ana de Armas in Cuba

    Just weeks after admitting he regrets divorcing Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck surfaced in Cuba with his “Deep Water” co-star, Ana de Armas.

    Affleck, 47, and de Armas, 31, were spotted dining in Havana, where they stopped and smiled alongside fans and restaurant employees, pictures obtained by the Daily Mail show.

    The stars reportedly became close while filming the Adrian Lyne-directed drama “Deep Water,” which wrapped filming weeks ago.  According to the outlet, the two stars were spotted in more than one restaurant together and continued their getaway by leisurely shopping and walking around the streets of Havana.

    BEN AFFLECK’S INTERVIEWS ABOUT JENNIFER GARNER HAVE LEFT HER BOYFRIEND JOHN MILLER ‘UNCOMFORTABLE’: REPORT

    Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas both star in “Deep Water.”
    (AP, Getty)

    In one photo obtained by the outlet, the actor appeared to have his arm wrapped over de Armas’ shoulder as the duo were surrounded by nearly a dozen ecstatic fans. One onlooker told Us Weekly the two were also spotted having some fun inside a T-shirt shop.

    “It was just the two of them and their driver. Ben happily took photos with fans. Ben was in a very happy mood, making funny faces in selfies with fans,” said the eyewitness.

    De Armas is a native of Cuba and studied theater in Havana, according to her IMDB page.

    BEN AFFLECK THANKS EX-WIFE JENNIFER GARNER FOR BEING ‘THOUGHTFUL, CONSIDERATE, RESPONSIBLE’ IN PUBLIC NOTE

    Ana de Armas attends the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 5.
    (Daniele Venturelli/WireImage)

    She is best recognized for her role as Marta Cabrera in “Knives Out” and takes on the role of the next Bond girl in the upcoming James Bond film, “No Time to Die.” The highly-anticipated film’s release date was recently pushed back from April to November 2020 due to coronavirus fears.

    Affleck and de Armas’ “Deep Water” comes out November 13. The stars have reportedly been close since they began filming in New Orleans. One fan who spotted them months ago told the Daily Mail that Affleck spoke in Spanish to de Armas “all night long.”

    Ben Affleck revealed in a recent interview that divorcing Jennifer Garner is the “biggest regret” of his life.
    (Getty Images)

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    Affleck recently opened up about his ex-wife Garner during a series of interviews while promoting his new film “The Way Back.” In addition to calling his failed marriage to Garner the “biggest regret” of his life, the recovering alcoholic called himself “very lucky” to be able to call Garner the mother of his children, Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Samuel, 7.

    De Armas was reportedly married to actor Marc Clotet from 2011 until 2013.

    Ben Affleck took sobriety seriously, had a liaison take him to set while filming ‘The Way Back’

    Ben Affleck took his real-life rehab and sobriety seriously while playing an alcoholic for the upcoming movie “The Way Back.”

    While filming the sports movie, Affleck was in rehab getting control of his alcoholism. The star has been candid about his sobriety struggles in the past and his co-star, Will Ropp, revealed that Affleck didn’t take any chances during filming.

    “Everybody was very transparent from the beginning that he was in rehab at the beginning of the film,” Ropp explained to People at the Los Angeles premiere of the movie.

    He added: “He had to have a sober liaison that would bring him to set and that would bring him back from [the] set.”

    BEN AFFLECK SAYS EX JENNIFER GARNER AND HE ARE ‘RESPECTFUL’ TO EACH OTHER AND ‘GET ALONG’ FOR THEIR KIDS

    In the drama, the 47-year-old former Batman actor plays Jack Cunningham. The character is a former basketball player who abruptly left the game. Years later, he’s forced to confront his own alcoholism when he’s tasked with coaching a basketball team at his old school.

    Ben Affleck plays a struggling alcoholic in his new film ‘The Way Back.’
    (Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Warner Bros.)

    The parallels between the character and Affleck’s real-life situation were not lost on him.

    “There are some things about this character I really could connect to — being a recovering alcoholic, going through family strife, a divorce,” he said, referencing his split with Jennifer Garner.

    “You try to bring your own life experience to the parts that you can use your imagination on the other parts,” he continued to People at the premiere.

    The actor went on to call the experience “cathartic” for him.

    “The potential for a movie like this is to really inspire somebody, to move somebody,” he said. “Sometimes you do movies, you go, ‘Okay, it’s a thriller. They’re thrilled. And then they go home and they’ve forgotten about it.’ My goal with this was to make something that would feel enduring and lasting.

    BEN AFFLECK’S INTERVIEWS ABOUT JENNIFER GARNER HAVE LEFT HER BOYFRIEND JOHN MILLER ‘UNCOMFORTABLE’: REPORT

    “Not everybody is going to come in and think it’s great,” he added. “But for those who do, and for those who may be moved by this, the idea that you can face hard things and get better, I’m really proud of that.”

    Ben Affleck had an emotional moment while acting out a scene in ‘The Way Back’ that mirrored his real life.
    (AP)

    According to the film’s director, Gavin O’Connor, Affleck himself had a very emotional moment on set while playing a scene that reflected his real life a bit too much. The scene involves Cunningham making amends with his wife.

    “It was probably the second take, Ben just had a breakdown. I’m getting chills thinking about it. It was like the dam broke and everything came out,” O’Connor told the Associated Press.

    He added: “I just remember the crew, everyone was frozen, watching him bear his soul. It was obviously real. A lot of things that he probably had to say in his own life, or maybe he had said, I don’t know.”

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    Affleck told the Associated Press: “Unfortunately, I had actually lived that life and done the research. I brought a certain perverse expertise because I knew what it was like to feel in thrall to a compulsion that wasn’t good for me.

    “I knew how hopeless that can feel. And I knew how enormously frustrating it is. But I also knew something really important, which is: People get better. You can get better.”

    Fox News’ Melissa Roberto contributed to this report.

    Ben Affleck suffered ‘breakdown’ on set while portraying alcoholic who apologizes to wife in ‘The Way Back’

    Ben Affleck has been opening up about his alcoholism and difficult path to sobriety while promoting his upcoming film, “The Way Back,” in which he plays an alcoholic.

    Taking on a role that mirrored some of the actor’s own personal demons helped to “free” him, Affleck revealed in a recent interview with The Associated Press. But there is one scene where his character, Jack Cunningham, makes amends to his wife that caused the 47-year-old to suffer a breakdown on set.

    “It was probably the second take, Ben just had a breakdown. I’m getting chills thinking about it. It was like the dam broke and everything came out,” the film’s director, Gavin O’Connor, told the AP.

    BEN AFFLECK’S INTERVIEWS ABOUT JENNIFER GARNER HAVE LEFT HER BOYFRIEND JOHN MILLER ‘UNCOMFORTABLE’: REPORT

    Ben Affleck attends ‘The Way Back’ Atlanta Q&A screening at Plaza Theatre on February 19 in Atlanta, Ga.
    (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

    The director furthered: “I just remember the crew, everyone was frozen, watching him bear his soul. It was obviously real. A lot of things that he probably had to say in his own life, or maybe he had said, I don’t know.”

    Affleck’s emotions were so raw that some parts of the scene were cut from the final version of the film.

    “It would be too hard for an audience to watch, too personal,” O’Connor explained.

    The “Argo” director spoke with AP about other parallels the film has to his life.

    BEN AFFLECK SAYS EX JENNIFER LOPEZ SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN OSCAR NOMINATION FOR ‘HUSTLERS’

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were all smiles as they took their kids to church together in Los Angeles. 
    (Splash)

    “Unfortunately, I had actually lived that life and done the research. I brought a certain perverse expertise because I knew what it was like to feel in thrall to a compulsion that wasn’t good for me,” Affleck says. “I knew how hopeless that can feel. And I knew how enormously frustrating it is. But I also knew something really important, which is: People get better. You can get better.”

    Affleck went into rehab at the start of prepping for the movie, O’Connor revealed, marking somewhat of a difficult transition for Jennifer Garner‘s ex-husband.

    “So now we were prepping the movie while he was in rehab and we thought it was going to fall apart,” said O’Connor. “But he still wanted to do it. When he got out, he was incredibly raw and vulnerable and I think a little lost just in regard to having to confront the demons.”

    BEN AFFLECK SHARES WHAT HE’S LOOKING FOR IN HIS NEXT RELATIONSHIP: ‘ALL THE SORT OF USUAL STUFF’

    Ben Affleck plays the role of an alcoholic who is struggling with a failed marriage in ‘The Way Back.’
    (Splash News)

    Despite his admitted relapses — last October, he was captured drunk on camera — Affleck told AP his journey to sobriety has been humbling.

    “It takes time to learn all the things you need to learn. And it also takes time to suffer enough until at some point there’s something inside you that says, ‘No mas. I give,’” says Affleck. “What it really is, personally in me and what I’ve seen in others that I want for myself, is a profound sense of humility. You are not stronger than the thing you’re addicted to. It is stronger than you. It will always be stronger than you.”

    BEN AFFLECK THANKS EX-WIFE JENNIFER GARNER FOR BEING ‘THOUGHTFUL, CONSIDERATE, RESPONSIBLE’ IN PUBLIC NOTE

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner reunite after the actor’s release from rehab in September 2018.
    (X17)

    Affleck previously opened up to The New York Times in an interview about how his alcoholism took a toll on his 10-year marriage to Garner.

    The exes, who have three children together, separated in 2015 and divorced in 2018.

    “The biggest regret of my life is this divorce,” Affleck told the New York Times, explaining that while he still feels guilt over the split, he’s moved beyond the shame. “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.”

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    Affleck then admitted he “drank relatively normally” for most of his marriage, but in 2015 or 2016, he began to drink more heavily, which “created more marital problems.”

    “The Way Back” comes out March 6.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    Ben Affleck says ex Jennifer Garner and he are ‘respectful’ to each other and ‘get along’ for their kids

    After recently calling his divorce from actress Jennifer Garner the “biggest regret” of his life, Ben Affleck is heaping further praise on the mother of his children.

    Affleck and Garner, both 47, were together for 10 years before they officially divorced after a long separation in 2018. Affleck has been open in the past about his struggles with alcoholism contributing to problems within the marriage. Despite the divorce, the duo co-parent their three kids Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Sam, 8.

    “When you have children with somebody you’re connected to them forever,” Affleck told People in a recent interview. “And I’m very lucky she is the mother of my children.”

    BEN AFFLECK SHARES WHAT HE’S LOOKING FOR IN HIS NEXT RELATIONSHIP: ‘ALL THE SORT OF USUAL STUFF

    Ben Affleck explained how he and Jennifer Garner co-parent their three kids.
    (Splash)

    The actor, who stars in the upcoming sports drama film “The Way Back” about a basketball coach struggling with alcoholism, got candid about his co-parenting relationship with Garner, noting that it was important to them both that their kids see them respecting each other.

    “I’m very grateful and respectful of her,” he explained. “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.”

    BEN AFFLECK SAYS EX JENNIFER LOPEZ SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN OSCAR NOMINATION FOR ‘HUSTLERS’

    He added: “My parents got divorced when I was young and I know how painful that is, and I knew that they [my kids] would have to go through that publicly. But kids are resilient. They appreciate the truth.”

    Ben Affleck opened up about his divorce with Jennifer Garner being a regret.
    (Getty Images)

    In a recent interview with The New York Times, Affleck got even more candid about the end of his marriage.

    “The biggest regret of my life is this divorce,” revealed Affleck, explaining that while he still feels guilt over the split, he’s moved beyond the shame.

    “Shame is really toxic. There is no positive byproduct of shame,” he said. “It’s just stewing in a toxic, hideous feeling of low self-worth and self-loathing.”

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    “It’s not particularly healthy for me to obsess over the failures — the relapses — and beat myself up,” the Oscar winner added. “I have certainly made mistakes. I have certainly done things that I regret. But you’ve got to pick yourself up, learn from it, learn some more, try to move forward.”

    Ben Affleck says ex Jennifer Garner and he are ‘respectful’ to each other and ‘get along’ for their kids

    After recently calling his divorce from actress Jennifer Garner the “biggest regret” of his life, Ben Affleck is heaping further praise on the mother of his children.

    Affleck and Garner, both 47, were together for 10 years before they officially divorced after a long separation in 2018. Affleck has been open in the past about his struggles with alcoholism contributing to problems within the marriage. Despite the divorce, the duo co-parent their three kids Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Sam, 8.

    “When you have children with somebody you’re connected to them forever,” Affleck told People in a recent interview. “And I’m very lucky she is the mother of my children.”

    BEN AFFLECK SHARES WHAT HE’S LOOKING FOR IN HIS NEXT RELATIONSHIP: ‘ALL THE SORT OF USUAL STUFF

    Ben Affleck explained how he and Jennifer Garner co-parent their three kids.
    (Splash)

    The actor, who stars in the upcoming sports drama film “The Way Back” about a basketball coach struggling with alcoholism, got candid about his co-parenting relationship with Garner, noting that it was important to them both that their kids see them respecting each other.

    “I’m very grateful and respectful of her,” he explained. “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.”

    BEN AFFLECK SAYS EX JENNIFER LOPEZ SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN OSCAR NOMINATION FOR ‘HUSTLERS’

    He added: “My parents got divorced when I was young and I know how painful that is, and I knew that they [my kids] would have to go through that publicly. But kids are resilient. They appreciate the truth.”

    Ben Affleck opened up about his divorce with Jennifer Garner being a regret.
    (Getty Images)

    In a recent interview with The New York Times, Affleck got even more candid about the end of his marriage.

    “The biggest regret of my life is this divorce,” revealed Affleck, explaining that while he still feels guilt over the split, he’s moved beyond the shame.

    “Shame is really toxic. There is no positive byproduct of shame,” he said. “It’s just stewing in a toxic, hideous feeling of low self-worth and self-loathing.”

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    “It’s not particularly healthy for me to obsess over the failures — the relapses — and beat myself up,” the Oscar winner added. “I have certainly made mistakes. I have certainly done things that I regret. But you’ve got to pick yourself up, learn from it, learn some more, try to move forward.”

    Ben Affleck says ex Jennifer Garner and he are ‘respectful’ to each other and ‘get along’ for their kids

    After recently calling his divorce from actress Jennifer Garner the “biggest regret” of his life, Ben Affleck is heaping further praise on the mother of his children.

    Affleck and Garner, both 47, were together for 10 years before they officially divorced after a long separation in 2018. Affleck has been open in the past about his struggles with alcoholism contributing to problems within the marriage. Despite the divorce, the duo co-parent their three kids Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Sam, 8.

    “When you have children with somebody you’re connected to them forever,” Affleck told People in a recent interview. “And I’m very lucky she is the mother of my children.”

    BEN AFFLECK SHARES WHAT HE’S LOOKING FOR IN HIS NEXT RELATIONSHIP: ‘ALL THE SORT OF USUAL STUFF

    Ben Affleck explained how he and Jennifer Garner co-parent their three kids.
    (Splash)

    The actor, who stars in the upcoming sports drama film “The Way Back” about a basketball coach struggling with alcoholism, got candid about his co-parenting relationship with Garner, noting that it was important to them both that their kids see them respecting each other.

    “I’m very grateful and respectful of her,” he explained. “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.”

    BEN AFFLECK SAYS EX JENNIFER LOPEZ SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN OSCAR NOMINATION FOR ‘HUSTLERS’

    He added: “My parents got divorced when I was young and I know how painful that is, and I knew that they [my kids] would have to go through that publicly. But kids are resilient. They appreciate the truth.”

    Ben Affleck opened up about his divorce with Jennifer Garner being a regret.
    (Getty Images)

    In a recent interview with The New York Times, Affleck got even more candid about the end of his marriage.

    “The biggest regret of my life is this divorce,” revealed Affleck, explaining that while he still feels guilt over the split, he’s moved beyond the shame.

    “Shame is really toxic. There is no positive byproduct of shame,” he said. “It’s just stewing in a toxic, hideous feeling of low self-worth and self-loathing.”

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    “It’s not particularly healthy for me to obsess over the failures — the relapses — and beat myself up,” the Oscar winner added. “I have certainly made mistakes. I have certainly done things that I regret. But you’ve got to pick yourself up, learn from it, learn some more, try to move forward.”

    Ben Affleck opens up about taking antidepressants since he was 26: ‘They’re very helpful for me’

    In the second part of Ben Affleck‘s tell-all GMA interview, the actor and director spoke more in-depth about his struggles with mental health and addiction.

    The 47-year-old Oscar-winner revealed to ABC News’ Diane Sawyer that he’s battled depression since his 20s and has been taking antidepressants since he was 26 years old.

    “I get depressed. I take antidepressants. They’re very helpful for me,” Affleck said. “I’ve taken them since I was 26 years old, various different kinds. I’ve switched and tried this and tried that.

    BEN AFFLECK CALLS JENNIFER GARNER DIVORCE ‘BIGGEST REGRET OF MY LIFE’

    “Sometimes they won’t tell you about some awful side effect and you’ll come back and say, ‘Why am I 60 pounds heavier?’” he added. “And [the doctor says], ‘Oh, well you put on a little weight.’ And it’s like, ‘Oh, well thanks!’”

    Affleck also spoke about attending church with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner and their three kids: Samuel, 8 this month, Seraphina, 11, and Violet, 14.

    “I’d like to find some sort of sense of meaning and purpose. I was not raised religious — I’m not a very good Christian, although 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 admitted.

    BEN AFFLECK THANKS FANS FOR SUPPORT AFTER COMPLETING ALCOHOL REHAB

    For Affleck, his 2018 divorce wasn’t something he ever thought would happen to him.

    “There are things that I would love to go back and change. I have regrets,” he told Sawyer. “I made plenty of mistakes, some big, some small.”

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner split after 10 years of marriage in 2015. They finalized their divorce in 2018. 
    (Reuters)

    But the star is holding out hope for the future. He said five years from now, he wants people to say, “Ben Affleck is sober and happy, and sees his kids three-and-a-half days a week — has made three or four movies that are interesting to him, probably directed two that he’s hopefully proud of. And is in a healthy, stable, loving, committed — relationship.”

    In part one of their interview, Affleck spoke candidly about his alcohol addiction and bumpy journey to become sober — “I started to drink every day. I’d come home from work and drink until I passed out on the couch,” he said.

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    “I don’t have any more room for failure of that kind,” Affleck said in reference to his multiple stints in rehab. “I have to be the man I want to be at this point.”