In a candid interview with GQ Magazine, actor Ben Affleck reflected on the personal challenges he faced while portraying the role of Batman in DC’s Justice League, released in 2017. This discussion, which took place on March 25, delved deep into Affleck’s experiences during one of his most high-profile roles.
As highlighted by Harper’s Bazaar, Affleck has been open about his ongoing battle with alcohol addiction, having sought rehabilitation three times—specifically in 2001, 2017, and 2018.
Affleck’s Struggles During Justice League
When addressing his struggles with alcoholism during the filming of Justice League, Affleck expressed a lack of desire to return to superhero films. He attributed this to a disconnect between his personal “agendas, understandings, and expectations.”
“I certainly wouldn’t want to replicate an experience like that. A lot of it was misalignment of agendas, understandings, expectations. And also by the way, I wasn’t bringing anything particularly wonderful to that equation at the time, either. I had my own failings, significant failings, in that process and at that time.”
Furthermore, Affleck addressed his performance, stating that while he may have faltered as an actor, he did not feel he failed as a person. He conveyed that his emotional state, marked by unhappiness and negativity, affected his contribution on set:
“I mean, my failings as an actor, you can watch the various movies and judge. But more of my failings, in terms of why I had a bad experience, part of it is that what I was bringing to work every day was a lot of unhappiness. So I wasn’t bringing a lot of positive energy to the equation. I didn’t cause problems, but I came in and I did my job and I went home.”
Personal Insights on Alcoholism
In a previous revelation in The New York Times in February 2020, Affleck detailed the pervasive influence of alcoholism and mental illness in his family. He noted that his brother Casey also battled alcohol addiction, and has shared the tragic stories of family members lost to similar struggles.
“My dad didn’t really get sober until I was 19. The older I’ve gotten, the more I recognize that my dad did the best he could. There’s a lot of alcoholism and mental illness in my family.”
The 52-year-old actor described the enduring impact of his family’s history with addiction and mental illness, acknowledging it took considerable time for him to fully accept his own struggles with alcohol.
“The legacy of that is quite powerful and sometimes hard to shake. It took me a long time to fundamentally, deeply, without a hint of doubt, admit to myself that I am an alcoholic,”he said.
Looking Ahead
According to his recent GQ interview, Affleck has successfully maintained sobriety for over five years. He is set to appear in the upcoming action thriller The Accountant 2, directed by Gavin O’Connor, which is slated for release in theaters on April 25.