News | Entertainment
15 Feb 2026 16:37
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Matt Damon couldn't "imagine living under" the same "scrutiny" as Ben Affleck

    The 53-year-old actor and his longtime friend - who he first starred alongside in 1997's 'Good Will Hunting' - have had "parallel careers in a lot of ways", but Matt's pal has typically drawn more attention from the outside world


    Speaking to the Radio Times podcast, he said: "25 years ago, the gossip magazine culture was huge but they ignored me.

    "I wasn't an exciting story; the guy who's married, it's boring! Scandal and sex, that's what people would read magazines for. I've been really lucky.

    "Especially when I look at ['The Instigators' co-star] Casey's brother, Ben. We've had parallel careers in a lot of ways, but I can't imagine living under that scrutiny for 25 years."

    Matt married his wife Luciana, 48, in 2005, and together they have daughters Isabella, 18, Gia, 16, and Stella, 13, while Luciana is also mother to Alexia, 24, from a previous relationship.

    Ben, 51, has previously admitted he "doesn't like a lot of attention".

    Speaking on Kevin Hart's 'Hart to Heart', he said: "I see myself as a director, but I'm a little bit shy. I also don't like a lot of attention. This is why people see me [and] they're like, 'Well, this dude always mad...' Because somebody has their camera and sticking to my face.

    "I don't mind you taking my picture about a club, a premiere, whatever. My wife, I don't give a f***. Go ahead. Knock yourself out. I don't notice you.

    "My children, that's a different thing."

    Ben has children Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and 12-year-old Samuel with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, while wife Jennifer Lopez, 55, has 16-year-old twins Max and Emme with ex-husband Marc Anthony.

    The news come after Jennifer recently celebrated her 55th birthday in the Hamptons. The singer/actress threw a lavish 'Bridgerton'-themed fancy dress party on the weekend before her birthday and she then celebrated her big day by going for a meal in East Hampton with her mum Guadalupe Rodríguez, her manager Benny Medina and several friends .

    Ben is not believed to have attended the fancy dress party or the birthday meal.

    On her birthday, Jennifer shared an emotional message with fans thanking them for all their well wishes. In a post on Instagram, she wrote: "I've been seeing all of your birthday wishes, beautiful videos, and posts all last night and this morning from all over the world. I have laughed, smiled, shed some tears, and when I saw the billboard in Times Square, I was completely overwhelmed.

    "I really do have the best, most amazing fans in the world. I could never express how moved I am or how incredibly blessed I feel to have all of you be a part of my life. Thank you sooooo very much."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     15 Feb: Heather McComb will remember James Van Der Beek as being "innocent, kind and pure of heart"
     15 Feb: Margaret Qualley felt "overwhelmed" when she began her acting career
     15 Feb: Bunnie Xo has been wowed by Jelly Roll's 300-lb. weight loss
     15 Feb: Jesy Nelson no longer has "time" to make music
     15 Feb: Lena Dunham replaced her friends with a "posse" of cats after moving to London
     15 Feb: Camila Cabello has revealed "it's taken a year" for her hair to recover after she dyed it blonde
     15 Feb: Kylie Jenner has applauded her sister Kim Kardashian for "nailing" the new SKIMS cotton collection
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Australia have owned the waters off Auckland for a second straight SailGP season More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    BNZ bank is offering support to those affected by severe weather More...



     Today's News

    Cricket:
    Black Caps pace bowler Lockie Ferguson has departed the T20 World Cup camp on paternity leave 16:17

    International:
    Six mysterious deaths in the Balkan Mountains 16:07

    Rugby:
    Australia have owned the waters off Auckland for a second straight SailGP season 15:27

    Law and Order:
    Police are looking for two men who assaulted a Hamilton woman, while trying to enter her Fairfield home 15:27

    Entertainment:
    Heather McComb will remember James Van Der Beek as being "innocent, kind and pure of heart" 14:21

    Law and Order:
    Gisèle Pelicot intends to visit ex-husband in prison to get answers on other allegations 14:17

    Environment:
    The low pressure system is far from finished - hauling a plethora of weather elements our way 14:07

    Entertainment:
    Margaret Qualley felt "overwhelmed" when she began her acting career 13:51

    Golf:
    American Akshay Bhatia will take a two shot lead into the final round of the PGA Tour's latest event in Pebble Beach 13:47

    Motoring:
    German driver Chris Mies has escaped injury after his Ford Racing Mustang struck a kangaroo at the Bathurst 12 hour race 13:37


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd