Ben Affleckreflects on the differences between his andMatt Damon’s acting careers. Growing up together in the Boston area, the now A-list actors became creative partners at a young age. In 1989, the duo would enter the film world together as extras inField of Dreams. After a series of other roles throughout the 1990s,Affleck and Damonwould go on to make their breakout film,Good Will Hunting. Written by and starring the Massachusetts natives, the movie would go on to win the pair their first Oscars for the film’s original screenplay.
Speaking withGQ,Affleck addresses his and Damon’s different career paths. Affleck notes that Damon “learned and knew earlier than [he] did to really key in on the director as the fundamental basis on which he’s going to make a decision whether to do a movie or not.” In Affleck’s career, however, he has turned his attention more heavily to directing but will “act in things that [he] just really love[s].” He also cites some directors for whom he would be willing to take any role, including Martin Scorsese, Stephen Spielberg, and Christopher Nolan. Check out the full quote from Affleck below:
Matt Damon, whom you wroteGood Will Huntingwith, is an interesting counterexample to you in the sense that he has rarely seemed to want to do anything but act.
As much as I want to be an actor, I find it the most satisfying directing movies. Now, I thought you were going to compare our acting careers, to which I would’ve said, well, Matt learned and knew earlier than I did to really key in on the director as the fundamental basis on which he’s going to make a decision whether to do a movie or not, which was a very wise choice. And also he has certainly had opportunities to do movies that like—it’s not like I was saying, “No, Scorsese, no, Spielberg, I’m not going to be in your movie.” We’re in situations of our opportunities, and we’re subject to that.
What pulls you back to acting at this point?
I really feel like I started liking my work the most when I arrived at a point of, I could kind of take it or leave it. Where directing became a central focus, and I just thought, well, I’m going to act in things that I just really love.
[…]
When we were talking about Matt the other day, you made, I think it was mostly a joke in passing, but you were like, “If Scorsese or Spielberg had called, I would’ve taken those calls.”
I would’ve takenSaving Private Ryan.If Martin Scorsese called me and told me to play a waiter, I would take it. Steven Spielberg is one of the great filmmaking architects to ever live. I feel that way about Chris Nolan. I may go visit Matt on the set just to watch Nolan direct. I’m not even kidding at all.
What This Means For Affleck & Damon’s Careers
Damon Has Worked With A Wide Array Of Directors
The most important element of what Affleck is saying is that he is going in a farmore behind-the-scenes direction than Damonoverall. This does not mean that the A-lister is not acting, as he is starring inThe Accountant 2this year. Looking at his recent and upcoming slate, however, Affleck is living out the directorial focus that he purports to have. He was heavily involved in his filmAirin 2023, and has two upcoming directorial projects withAnimalsandWitness for the Prosecution.
Damon’s acting-focused work has, in turn, allowed the actor to work with some of the notable directors that Affleck might envy.About to play the lead inThe Odyssey, Damon has thrice been involved inNolan’s films, playing supporting roles inInterstellarandOppenheimer. Damon has also worked with greats like Ethan Coen and Steven Soderbergh. It is Damon’s acting-focused career that has allowed him to work with a wider array of directors than Affleck.
Our Take On Ben Affleck And Matt Damon’s Divergent Careers
It Makes Any Time They Work Together More Special
The fact that these two actors' careers are so different now makes the lightning in a bottle effect ofGood Will Huntingall the more special. WhileDamonandAffleckhave acted together a number of times since their 1997 breakout hit, they have only co-written one other screenplay, forThe Last Duel. This could, of course, change in the future, but their separate paths make any time they do work together all the more special.
Source:GQ
Ben Affleck
Discover the latest news and filmography for Ben Affleck, known for Good Will Hunting and Argo.
Matt Damon
Discover the latest news and filmography for Matt Damon, known for Good Will Hunting and The Martian.
