Ben Affleck says George Clooney was ‘spectacular’ in giving him more time to see his three kids during production of The Tender Bar
Ben Affleck credited George Clooney for helping him spend more time with his three children during production of The Tender Bar, which is directed by Clooney and stars Affleck.
Affleck, 49, chat with People on Tuesday about working with Clooney, 60 on the Amazon drama.
Affleck, who shares daughters Violet, 16, and Seraphina, 12, and son Samuel, nine, with ex Jennifer Garner, 49, told the outlet that his ‘life has really changed a lot,’ and that once he became a father, ‘it became very obvious to [him] that the priority was time with them.’
The latest: Ben Affleck, 49, credited George Clooney, 60, for helping him spend more time with his three children during production of The Tender Bar, which is directed by Clooney and stars Affleck. The stars were snapped in October at a screening of the film in LA
The Argo star-director said that Clooney, who is father to twins Ella and Alexander, four, with wife Amal Clooney, 43, ‘was spectacular in that way,’ as ‘he’s a dad too and would let me out on the weekends or cut me early.’
Affleck added: ‘He really understood and appreciated how important it was for me to see my kids.’
Affleck told the publication that ‘when [he] got divorced and had half the time’ with his kids, he had to make adjustments to his schedule.
‘I’m trying to fit a whole week of dad into three and a half days, [it’s] hard and stressful,’ he told the publication. ‘My standards really changed. I don’t want to go travel and do something if it’s not really rewarding and meaningful.
Affleck said of Clooney, ‘He really understood and appreciated how important it was for me to see my kids’
Affleck is seen playing Uncle Charlie opposite Tye Sheridan in the Amazon drama
‘Yeah, I have to work. The kids know I have to work. Their mom has to work. They understand that. But it’s not like I’m some martyr for my kids. I get more out of it than anything else.’
Affleck in The Tender Bar portrays the role of Uncle Charlie, who is a mentor to his nephew J.R. (portrayed by Tye Sheridan and Daniel Ranieri at different ages).
Affleck said he drew resonance for his role in the motion picture (which is based on the memoir from J.R. Moehringer) from his father Timothy.
‘My dad was a bartender,’ he said. ‘My dad was really interested in writing and literature and storytelling and passed that on to me. And it was a community very similar to the community on Long Island that’s depicted in the movie.’
He noted how his son Samuel ‘is Daniel’s age’ in the film, ‘so it was really easy to fall into that.
‘And then I also think the relationship between parents and children shifts into a more mentor-y sort of thing when they reach young adulthood, which I was comfortable with because Tye made it so easy.’