Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Reflect on 30-Year Friendship and 'Good Will Hunting' Success

The childhood friends and Oscar-winning screenwriters open up about their early days, Hollywood fame, and the making of their breakout film.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 5:31am

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In a 1997 interview with Interview Magazine, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, fresh out of college and on the cusp of global fame, opened up about their lifelong friendship, the challenges of pursuing acting careers, and the journey of writing and producing their breakout film "Good Will Hunting." The Cambridge-born childhood friends discussed their humble beginnings, the initial struggles to get their script made, and the surreal experience of navigating Hollywood's rewards and pitfalls as young actors.

Why it matters

This candid interview provides a fascinating glimpse into the early careers of two of Hollywood's most successful and enduring collaborators. Affleck and Damon's reflections on their friendship, creative process, and the making of "Good Will Hunting" offer insights into the challenges and triumphs of breaking into the film industry as outsiders, as well as the importance of maintaining authentic relationships in the face of fame and success.

The details

Affleck and Damon, who grew up just two blocks away from each other in Cambridge, Massachusetts, had been best friends since childhood. Both were drawn to acting from a young age, with Damon knowing he wanted to be an actor since he was 12 years old. After high school, the two pursued their dreams, with Damon attending Harvard and Affleck taking a more unconventional path. It was during Damon's time at Harvard that the two began collaborating on the script for "Good Will Hunting," drawing on their shared experiences and frustrations with the industry. The script went through a bidding war before ultimately landing at Miramax, where they were able to assemble their dream team, including director Gus Van Sant.

  • Affleck and Damon met as children, when they were 8 and 10 years old, respectively, and had been best friends since.
  • Damon knew he wanted to be an actor since he was 12 years old.
  • Affleck and Damon began collaborating on the "Good Will Hunting" script while Damon was a student at Harvard.
  • The "Good Will Hunting" script went through a bidding war in 1997, three years before the film's release in 1997.
  • Affleck and Damon were able to assemble their dream team, including director Gus Van Sant, to make "Good Will Hunting."

The players

Ben Affleck

Affleck's father was involved in a theater company in Boston, so Affleck was exposed to the performing arts from a young age. He pursued an unconventional path after high school, rather than attending college.

Matt Damon

Damon knew he wanted to be an actor since he was 12 years old, and he attended Harvard University, where he began collaborating with Affleck on the "Good Will Hunting" script.

Ingrid Sischy

Sischy was the editor-in-chief of Interview Magazine at the time of this 1997 interview with Affleck and Damon.

Gus Van Sant

Van Sant was the director of "Good Will Hunting," and Affleck and Damon were excited to work with him on their breakout film.

Chris Moore

Moore was the producer who helped Affleck and Damon navigate the challenges of getting "Good Will Hunting" made, including securing a deal with Miramax.

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What they’re saying

“We never fancied ourselves writers. And actually, it was a source of embarrassment for us when we sold the script, because a lot of our friends really are writers and can write a lot better than we can, except maybe dialogue.”

— Matt Damon

“It was the first time we realized how Hollywood works. We'd both gone in for a lot of auditions, but when you actually have something that people are trying to buy from you, it's a whole different thing.”

— Matt Damon

“Thanks to Chris, Miramax came to the rescue, Gus Van Sant knew of us—my brother, Casey, had acted in To Die For (1995)—and we heard he wanted to direct Good Will Hunting. We loved the idea, because we respect him so much.”

— Matt Damon

What’s next

Affleck and Damon's collaboration on "Good Will Hunting" would go on to earn them their first Oscars for Best Original Screenplay in 1998, launching them to global fame and cementing their status as one of Hollywood's most successful and enduring creative partnerships.

The takeaway

Affleck and Damon's candid reflections on their early careers and the making of "Good Will Hunting" highlight the importance of perseverance, authenticity, and maintaining close friendships in the face of industry pressures and fame. Their story serves as an inspiration for aspiring filmmakers and actors, demonstrating that with passion, hard work, and a supportive creative network, even outsiders can break through and achieve remarkable success.