Ben Affleck opens up about sobriety as he reveals why he wishes it had remained 'anonymous'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ben Affleck has long been open about his struggles with alcohol addiction.

However, in a recent GQ interview, the 52-year-old actor admitted he underestimated how much his recovery would remain a public topic.

Ben Affleck on public scrutiny over sobriety

While promoting his film 'The Way Back', in which Affleck portrays a recovering addict, he acknowledged that his personal journey often overshadows his work.

"I didn’t have any ambitions to be the national spokesman for recovering alcoholics," Affleck told GQ.

"And not because I have any shame with it or anything. I just find that, I’ve been sober for more than five years, it’s just not something that is at the forefront of my mind," he added.

Ben Affleck wishes for privacy in his recovery

Ben Affleck confessed that if he had the choice, he would have preferred to keep his sobriety private.

"If I could have, I would’ve kept the fact that I’m sober anonymous," he revealed.

Affleck clarified that while he understands the nature of fame, he never sought to become the face of recovery.

"I think it works better that way. And I didn’t ask for that to become something people knew about. But I can’t complain about it either," he admitted.

Ben Affleck reflects on finding gratitude in the sobriety journey

Despite the challenges of public scrutiny, Ben Affleck says he now views his recovery with gratitude.

"I have arrived at a place where I think of that experience as part of my life in authentically grateful ways, whereas I didn’t think such a thing was possible before," he said.

Affleck’s battle with addiction has been widely documented, including his multiple rehab stays.

In 2018, after his third stint in treatment, he publicly acknowledged that "battling any addiction is a lifelong and difficult struggle."

"Because of that, one is never really in or out of treatment. It is a full-time commitment," he shared at the time.

Ben Affleck's five years of sobriety and looking ahead

Now more than five years sober, Ben Affleck emphasized that addiction no longer defines his daily life.

"It’s not the central preoccupation of my life," he explained.

In a 2021 interview with 'The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter' podcast, Affleck shared that he felt "as healthy and good as I’ve ever felt."

Affleck and Jennifer Lopez tied the knot in 2022, a year after their rekindled their romance.

However, Lopez filed for divorce in August 2024, finalizing it in January 2025.