Gwyneth Paltrow briefly mentioned her ex-boyfriend Ben Affleck while discussing her friendship with the late Robin Williams on Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast. Paltrow, 53, referenced Affleck without naming him directly, explaining she met Williams during the 1997 release of “Good Will Hunting” while dating someone involved in the film. Poehler acknowledged the reference, praising Affleck’s performance, which Paltrow echoed, calling the movie “perfect.”
Paltrow and Affleck dated from 1997 to 2000 after her split from Brad Pitt. They co-starred in “Shakespeare in Love” (1998) and “Bounce” (2000). A recent biography by Amy Odell highlighted their turbulent relationship, noting Affleck’s struggles with alcoholism and gambling at the time, as well as Paltrow’s friends’ concerns about his perceived lack of appreciation for her. Odell also claimed Paltrow openly discussed their intimate life, including praising Affleck’s sexual prowess—a sentiment she reiterated on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in 2023, labeling him “technically excellent” in bed.
After their breakup, Paltrow had two children with Coldplay’s Chris Martin before marrying Brad Falchuk in 2018. Affleck was married to Jennifer Garner from 2005 to 2018 and later to Jennifer Lopez from 2022 to 2024.