Matt Damon recently shared an entertaining detail about his wife, Luciana, when discussing her reaction to watching the acclaimed film Good Will Hunting alongside his longtime friend and collaborator, Ben Affleck. During a joint appearance on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show on Monday, January 12, the pair were on hand to promote their upcoming Netflix action-thriller, The Rip, where Damon recounted how the friendship between him, his wife, and Affleck led to lighthearted teasing.
Luciana’s First Impressions and Longstanding Joke
When prompted by Howard Stern, Damon described how Luciana initially found Affleck to be “the cute one” after watching Good Will Hunting with her high school best friend. Damon explained that his own friendship with Affleck dates back decades, but even within their close circle, humor is often shared at each other’s expense. Over the years, Damon and Luciana have even joked about this revelation, which surfaced only after they had been dating for some time.
“After we’d been together for a little while, probably a few months, she admitted that — I think I met her best friend from high school and it came out that the two of them went and saw Good Will Hunting together, and her best friend thought I was the cute one, and she thought Ben was the cute one.”
— Matt Damon, Actor
Damon continued by adding yet another playful take on his wife’s early crush, reflecting on their now longstanding marriage and the continued presence of this inside joke between them:
“So she admitted to me… I’m like, ‘You got the wrong one?’ She told me that 23 years ago.”
— Matt Damon, Actor
Ben Affleck and Luciana’s Professional Relationship
As Howard Stern pressed further, asking whether the idea of Luciana thinking Affleck was the attractive one still lingered, Affleck offered insight into his rapport with Luciana beyond the ribbing. Affleck pointed out that Luciana’s contributions to their joint film projects have made her a vital part of their team. As a producer on both The Rip and Affleck’s upcoming directorial project, Animals, Luciana plays a key role in their creative process, receiving high praise from both men.
“She’s a great producer and a really good friend, and yeah, I never got that vibe from her. So I think something I did in real life rubbed it off.”
— Ben Affleck, Actor
Amid laughter in the studio, Damon further cracked,
“Finally she met him and all that went away.”
— Matt Damon, Actor
Continued Collaboration and Upcoming Release
The enduring camaraderie between Damon and Affleck extends well beyond their early films. Frequently working together as actors and producers, they most recently teamed up on The Rip, which is set to launch on Netflix on January 16 under their joint venture, Artists Equity. Their partnership reflects both professional synergy and a deep, genuine friendship which fans have followed since their early days in the industry.
While playful exchanges involving Luciana add a personal touch to their story, it is the longstanding collaboration among Matt Damon wife Ben Affleck, and Luciana that highlights the trust and success the trio have developed. As Damon and Affleck return to the screen together, this combination of personal history and professional ambition keeps audiences eager for what new stories they will bring to life.
