It is rare to see friendships that have stood the test of time, especially in a cutthroat environment like the entertainment business. But Hollywood superstars Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have proved that it is possible. The two actors have managed to carve a niche for themselves as unique talents, while also turning their rock-solid friendship into a professional partnership as well.
Having been friends since they were really young, the two actors have shared many memories on their way to becoming stars, including having a competitive streak as well. Affleck revealed an instance where he was cast for an educational PBS show for kids which he was pretty embarrassed by at the time, but made Damon extremely jealous.
When Matt Damon Couldn’t Stomach Ben Affleck’s Success
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck go back in time long before Hollywood made them the superstars they are today. Having met as young boys with starry eyes and dreams in entertainment, the two celebrities encouraged each other through auditions and screen tests, all the while maintaining a strong bond of friendship.
This translated to a dream professional partnership that saw them win the coveted Oscar for Good Will Hunting and more recently, forming their production company Artists Equity. Expectedly, The Martian actor and the Gone Girl star have a whole treasure chest of unforgettable memories they have shared over the decades.
In an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Affleck recollected a hilarious incident that brought out the fiery competitive streak in Damon. The Argo director was the first among the two to successfully audition and get a role in a children’s educational show titled The Voyage of Mimi on PBS. This did not sit well with Damon who was pretty jealous about his friend’s success.
We lived down the street from each other and we’d see each other at the park, and he was one of the bigger kids. But then I got this job on TV. A PBS cheesy education show for kids, which I thought was kind of lame, but it was enough to make Matt boil with envy. Just burn with rage.
After jokingly stating that he was much bigger in size than Damon now, Affleck revealed that his friend was passionate about becoming an actor even at such a young age. This fire in his belly continued to burn and ultimately resulted in him making it big in Hollywood.
Matt Damon And Ben Affleck Have An Admirer In Cillian Murphy
It is safe to say that everyone dreams of a friendship like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. The actors who have been best friends for over 40 years of their lives, have proved that professional rivalry and personal relationships can co-exist seamlessly. With their recently formed production company, the two Oscar winners are looking to create a new wave in cinema.
One of their big fans in the industry is none other than Cillian Murphy who is currently basking in the glory of his stupendous award-winning performance in Oppenheimer. The Dunkirk star will next be seen in the Irish film Small Things Like These in which he plays a coal delivery driver and a father who discovers disturbing occurrences at the local convent.
Apart from playing the central lead, the Inception actor has produced the film under his banner Big Things Films. Additionally, Damon and Affleck have also stepped in as producers with their company Artists Equity. The film is set to release in November 2024.
In an interview with Variety, Murphy elaborated on how a chance interaction with Damon who was his co-star on the Oppenheimer sets, led to this association. He was effusive in his praise for the two friends and explained why they were so successful as producers.
Damon and Affleck were starting their studio, for want of a better word, and we sent them the script and they loved it. And they were such fantastic partners, because they really let us make the film that we wanted to make, which you’d expect given they’re filmmakers themselves.
Based on the Booker Prize-nominated novel by Claire Keegan, Small Things Like These is the first film to come out of Murphy’s production company which he started with producer Alan Maloney. With the freedom offered by Damon and Affleck to explore the aspects of cinema, the film is already looking to receive positive responses.
