It has been a very good year for Ben Affleck. One of the breakout stars of the 1992 drama School Ties (which also put Brendan Fraser, Chris O’donnell, and Matt Damon on the Hollywood map), Affleck earned an Academy Award as the co writer of the screenplay of Good Will Hunting, in which he also starred with his lifelong friend Damon. Affleck divides his screen time between independent films and major studio productions. He earned plaudits as the conflicted comic book artist in Kevin Smith‘s Chasing Amy and will star in the directors next film Dogma. His eclectic resume also includes the coming of age drama, Going All The Way and the Dean Koontz suspense thriller Phantoms. He will next be seen on screen in one of this summer’s most eagerly awaited films, Armageddon opposite Bruce Willis and Liv Tyler. – Donald Liebenson

Fame for Gentle Ben

MY AMBITION was never to be famous. I always thought of that as a somewhat undesireable quality,” That’s what Ben Affleck told David A. Keeps in Details. Too bad, Ben. You are famous, an Oscar winner (screenwriting with pal Matt Damon) and just wait until the world sees you in “Armageddon”! Then again, just wait till the world sees “Armageddon”. What a movie! The most nail-biting meteor-hitting-Earth film ever. The absolute best disaster movie in eons. Incredible tension, cinematography and editing. (Talk about breathless pace!) It has two of the world’s sexiest men – Affleck and, but of course, Bruce Willis, who has never been better or more heroic – and Liv Tyler, terrific as Willis’ daughter and Affleck’s love interest. And there is a brilliant supporting cast.

I’m telling you, “Armageddon” is the summer smash, hands down.

Gwyneth Paltrow has stolen the heart of her boyfriend, actor and Oscar-winning writer Ben Affleck. “She is the woman I love,” he said, in the first admission that their 6 month relationship is serious.

However, the 25 year old ruled out any immediate marriage. He also said he was no longer drinking, adding: “Almost every relationship I’ve ever been in has been a train wreck.” Gwyneth, 24, whose engagement to Brad Pitt ended very publicly a year ago said of Affleck: “He’s really nice, but I don’t talk about relationships any more.”