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Watch a Married Jennifer Garner Flirt with Engaged Ben Affleck Before They Got Together

By Cindy Davis | Celebrity | October 6, 2014 |

By Cindy Davis | Celebrity | October 6, 2014 |


This is interesting, and also kind of weird. Is it weird in a sweet, it-was-destiny sort of way, or just creepyweird? (Who can say?) Over at Vulture, they got hold of video of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner appearing together as Jon Favreau’s Dinner for Five guests. The episode aired in 2003; at the time, Garner was still married to Scott Foley, and Affleck was newly engaged to Jennifer Lopez. Though Garner and Foley separated within a couple months, Affleck remained engaged for another year, and came pretty darned close to marrying Lopez in September 2003. But check out this video of a super-smiley and flirty Garner (she and Affleck had just worked together on Daredevil)…looks like she nursed that crush a long time.

The whole video offers a nifty look back at a younger, perhaps more brash Ben Affleck. Busy sharing stories with buddies Favreau and Colin Farrell, Ben seems either oblivious to, or is trying to ignore Jen’s direct attention. He certainly doesn’t shun her, but neither does he look nearly as taken with her as she is with him.

(If you want to go straight to the moment where Garner “fell in love”, start at about the 20:00 mark)


So what do you think, sweet or strange? Did Garner pine after Ben all that time, or was their later relationship just serendipity? Not that it matters; the pair have an enduring marriage and an adorable family. In the end it’s really just a curious look back at a moment captured in time.


Cindy Davis, (Twitter)