Ben Affleck Calls One Project “Horrendous” and Absolutely Regrets Making It

Before Ben Affleck became a household name, he experimented with roles that didn’t exactly showcase his talent.

In a one interview with Back Stage, the actor reflected on one of his early projects that he now calls “horrendous.”

Affleck explained that after his breakout in the early 1990s with Dazed and Confused, he struggled to find consistent work.

He landed a role in an HBO anthology series called Lifetime: Families in Crisis, which told true stories about social issues aimed at educating young people. Affleck’s episode, titled A Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story, followed a teenage athlete who turns to steroids to improve his physique.

“From there I kicked around and did a steroids movie for HBO, which was horrendous,” Affleck admitted. When asked if he meant just the acting was bad, he added, “From an everything standpoint. The story didn’t work, and you can’t be good in something if it doesn’t work.”

Despite the weak script, Affleck wasn’t alone on set. His episode also featured Ernie Hudson and Kamala Lopez. Other episodes in the series starred names like Will Wheaton, Claire Danes, Sam Rockwell, and Calista Flockhart. Affleck’s early experience may have been rough, but it was part of the learning curve for the young actor.

Three years later, Affleck, along with Matt Damon, made a major splash with Good Will Hunting, which launched both of their careers. From that point on, Affleck’s roles took a very different turn, leaving educational dramas behind.

Looking back, Affleck sees the HBO film as a stepping stone. It may not have been good, but it helped him grow as an actor and prepare for bigger opportunities.

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