Jennifer Garner Talks Nannygate, Ben Affleck's Tat in Wild VF Cover Story: 'He's the Love of My Life'

In the time since Jennifer Garner separation from Ben Affleck, which she refers to as a “year of wine,” the star of the upcoming laugh-fest Miracles From Heaven hasn’t said much of anything about the matter. So, when I received the link to her Vanity Fair cover story titled “Exclusive: Jennifer Garner’s Frank Talk About Kids, Men, and Ben Affleck,” I turned off all the lights, lit a dozen scented candles, taped my eyes open, and began reading with a Grinch-like smile on my face.

Fortunately for myself—for all of us, actually—Krista Smith’s piece does not disappoint. This is more than just the true story of Nannygate—it’s a revealing look into the quiet and simple truths behind the screaming headlines. A reminder that even though stars aren’t as much “Like Us” as some tabloids would like us to believe, they’re more like us than we often give them credit for.

Below are some of Garner’s most memorable quotes:

On her marriage:

“It was a real marriage,” Garner tells me. “It wasn’t for the cameras. And it was a huge priority for me to stay in it. And that did not work.”

On Nannygate:

“We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny. She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes. It’s not great for your kids for [a nanny] to disappear from their lives.” Months later, she’s still assessing the damage. “I have had to have conversations about the meaning of ‘scandal,’” she says, with her children.

On Ben as the love of her life:

“He’s the love of my life. What am I going to do about that? He’s the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous. He’s just a complicated guy. I always say, ‘When his sun shines on you, you feel it.’ But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold. He can cast quite a shadow.”

On Ben as the knower of truths:

“He’s still the only person who really knows the truth about things. And I’m still the only person that knows some of his truths.”

On whether or not she sees herself dating:

“I guess. I don’t know. It’s just that [from] everyone that I know that is dating it just seems, well…. Men don’t call anymore…. I want flowers; I don’t want to text. What does that make me? What kind of dinosaur am I?”

On Ben’s big fucking phoenix tattoo:

“You know what we would say in my hometown about that? ‘Bless his heart.’ A phoenix rising from the ashes. Am I the ashes in this scenario?” Garner says with a wink. “I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes.”

Read the the entire—and entirely wonderful—story here.

Image via VF.