Jennifer Garner Reveals How Ben Affleck’s “Incredible Co-Parent” Role Freed Her To Say Yes

Jennifer Garner has always made one thing clear: her children come first. Even when exciting acting opportunities came her way, she refused to spend months away from her family.

Now, the actress has revealed how her strong co-parenting relationship with her former husband, Ben Affleck, made it possible for her to take on her latest TV project, ‘The Five Star Weekend‘, while still putting her children first.

Jennifer Garner Explains How Ben Affleck Helped Make Her New Series Possible

Jennifer Garner recently opened up to Entertainment Weekly about why she almost turned down ‘The Five Star Weekend‘, the TV adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s bestselling novel. Although she loved both the book and the script by creator and showrunner Bekah Brunstetter, the filming schedule initially made the project impossible for her.

Related: “I Was Told I’d Never Work After 40”: The Hollywood Myth Jennifer Garner Shattered

“When it was offered to me, it was supposed to shoot, I think, in Nova Scotia,” Garner said. “I said, ‘I would love to do it, but like everything, I really only work in L.A. I have three teenagers, and I can’t leave for four months. It’s just not worth it to me.'”

Garner, who shares three children with former husband Ben Affleck, has long followed a personal rule of not taking jobs that would keep her away from her family for extended periods. Violet is now 20, Seraphina is 17, and Samuel is 13. Even as they have grown older, she has continued to prioritize being present in their lives.

The project eventually became possible after producers changed their plans. Most of the filming was moved to Los Angeles, with only one month scheduled in Nantucket. That adjustment, combined with Affleck’s support, convinced Garner that she could finally say yes.

Garner Praises Ben Affleck As An “Incredible Co-Parent”

Garner credited Affleck for making the shorter filming schedule manageable. The former couple first met while filming ‘Pearl Harbor‘ in 2000, married in 2005, separated in 2015, and finalized their divorce in 2018. Despite ending their marriage, they have continued working together as parents.

In case you missed it: Jennifer Garner Finally Addresses Her Return Amid ’13 Going on 30′ Reboot Plans

“They can stay with their dad,” Garner said. “He’s wonderful. He takes care of them. He’s a great partner in that way. And so that’s very freeing.”

The actress also reflected on how her approach to work has changed as her children have grown older. Looking back, she has no regrets about putting her family ahead of her career when they were younger.

“There is a time in your life where you just do get caught up in all of that,” Garner said. “And that’s okay. Nothing is forever. 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.”

She added, “When they were younger, I wouldn’t have done a couple of weeks away without taking them with me. Now they’re [older]. You can’t really do that anymore. But I can [go off solo and film because of the co-parenting relationship].”

You might also like to read: Are Ben Affleck And Jennifer Garner Back Together? ‘Daredevil’ Couple Sparks Dating Rumour