Ben Affleck, a Hollywood celebrity, has linked his success in the industry and in life to his childhood friend Matt Damon.

Affleck discusses the impact their relationship has had on his mental health during their years together in the public light in Damon’s new GQ profile.

Ben, 49, expressed his admiration for his pal by saying: “I can’t speak for Matt, but my own kind of sanity and mental health really benefited from having someone who I grew up with and knew as a child who was also going through something similar – this 20-year-plus journey of being in the public eye – who I could reflect on it with honestly, talk things over with, be myself with, who I knew why we were friends, why he was interested and loved me, why I loved him.

“I often think of people who just become successful and then get thrust into this, and I think, ‘How do they do it without having somebody that they can talk to? Who they can trust? Who knew them before?’ It’s just been such an asset to me – and, I think, I hope, to Matt – this relationship that we’ve had.”

Damon shared Affleck’s thoughts, noting that he works hard to keep their friendship strong over time.

“Like, I don’t want to be his friend in public, you know what I mean?” Damon said. “It’s way too important a friendship for that, and it goes so beyond this career or anything. You know, it’s a significant part of my life and not for public consumption in that way.”

Meanwhile, Ben has joked that Matt only pursued an acting career because he became envious of Ben when he was a youngster and landed a role in a show called ‘The Voyage of Mimi.’

The ‘Justice League’ star said: “I was seven or eight, and ended up getting the part … Periodically, I would leave town, and go do this series, ‘The Voyage of the Mimi’. And it was cheesy, and I was embarrassed about it. It wasn’t like I was coming back home and being like, ‘You guys gotta see this! I’m so cool!’

“But I did like it, and it did two things. One it instilled in me a deep love and affection for this art and craft and line of work, and it made Matt Damon so incredibly jealous, it drove him into a career in cinema. So I really take credit for that.”

Matt Damon & Ben Affleck Photo: Evan Agostini/ImageDirect

The pair’s bond was sealed when they broke into Hollywood together with Good Will Hunting, making them the youngest persons to win an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.