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Violet at the White House state dinner © Nathan Howard

proud parents

How Violet Affleck is forging a path of her own away from Hollywood — What Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner think


Daniel Neira
Senior Writer
APRIL 24, 2025 2:30 PM EDT

Violet Affleck, the 19-year-old daughter of Hollywood stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, is carving out a path that’s distinctively her own, reflecting both her academic drive and her commitment to social causes.

Violet is a student at Yale University, and she is also known for her activism and intellectual pursuits, apart from the celebrity status of her famous parents. Her journey has been marked by a fierce desire to learn and stand up for what she believes in, and she has already made a name for herself.

Jennifer Garner and her daughter Violet Affleck arrive at the White House to attend a state dinner honoring French President Emmanuel Macron© ROBERTO SCHMIDT
Jennifer Garner and her daughter Violet Affleck arrive at the White House to attend a state dinner honoring French President Emmanuel Macron

Violet's interest in activism started at a young age when she learned the importance of using her voice to speak out against injustice. When Violet was just a young child, she stood up against the invasive paparazzi, when she noticed her family was chased and photographed by cameras daily.

Jennifer shared the story in a previous interview with The Hollywood Reporter, highlighting Violet's courage. "She stood up on a chair in a little velvet dress, with her hair a bit back and her glasses on and said: 'We didn’t ask for this. We don’t want these cameras, they’re scary,'" Jennifer recalled.

Violet Affleck and Ben Affleck take a cruise on the River Seine © Pierre Suu
Violet Affleck and Ben Affleck take a cruise on the River Seine

After that moment, Jennifer joined forces with fellow celebrities like Halle Berry to advocate for laws that protect children from paparazzi intrusion. This would be the start of Violet's activism at a young age, and when she grew older she used her voice for public health issues.

Jennifer Lopez and Violet Affleck are seen at a restaurant near the Louvre Museum © Pierre Suu
Jennifer Lopez and Violet Affleck are seen at a restaurant near the Louvre Museum

In July 2024, she delivered a powerful speech to the LA County Board of Supervisors advocating for policies to address the long-term effects of COVID-19. Her speech highlighted her own personal struggles with post-viral conditions.

"One in 10 infections leads to long COVID, which is a devastating neurological and cardiovascular illness that can take away people's ability to work, move, see, and even think," she said in her speech.

Violet Affleck and Ben Affleck take a cruise on the River Seine © Pierre Suu
Violet Affleck and Ben Affleck take a cruise on the River Seine

Ben recently shared a lighthearted but proud moment, revealing that Violet often competes with him in Spanish, as the actor is known for being bilingual. “My daughter is a student of Spanish and often competes with me,” Ben said. “She's getting better and is at a level where I think she might be passing me.”

He added, “She’s gotten to the point where I think she might be better at Spanish than me, and I said, ‘Nope, this is not happening!’” The two proud parents continue to support Violet, as she continues to thrive at Yale while forging a path of her own away from Hollywood.

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