Ben Affleck: 'WHY I CANCELLED MY SECOND J.LO WEDDING'

When Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez split up in January this year, we knew there was more of the Bennifer show to come. But now the last chance to witness the romance between Hollywood's biggest forehead and its biggest bottom is finally here - Ben and Jen are currently appearing together in the rom-com Jersey Girl, out this month.

Ben plays a ruthless publicist and Jen is Gertrude, his girlfriend, then wife, then mother of his daughter. You might think she'd be a major part of the story, but no - J.Lo's character kicks the bucket after nine minutes. And one glaring omission from the film's final cut has become the focus of public intrigue - the Bennifer wedding. Sound familiar? But unlike the couple's real-life Santa Barbara ceremony, which was cancelled at a day's notice with no explanation, this time Ben has an excuse. 'Having the wedding scene in the movie would be distracting,' he says.

Leaving the scene on the cutting room floor was director Kevin Smith's call, but Ben supports his decision and insists it was not meant vindictively towards Jennifer. Ben says, 'We still talk on the phone - there's no bitterness or animosity.' He adds axing the scene wasn't an easy decision. 'It was "damned if you do, damned if you don't". But the audience has to get past thinking, "Oh, here are these people we've heard about all the time, on tabloid television shows or whatever." Having the wedding scene in there would have made it more difficult because you'd think, "Oh, look, irony, irony."'

And what does Ben think? 'The irony is not lost on me,' he says. 'But the film was made when Jen and I were incredibly happy together. Every time you see a movie you've made, you're reminded about the people you made it with. This wasn't any different and the memories attached to it are all good.'

Ben admits it was his idea for J.Lo to star in the film and feels guilty for the hassle it's caused her. 'I asked Jen to do this small part as a favour to me. I said, "Come on, do it, it'll be fun, we'll be together,"' he recalls. 'But we've got nothing but trouble for it.'

And it's not the first time Ben and Jen have had private hassle due to their on-screen romance. Ben says their last (internationally panned) joint effort, Gigli, also put a strain on the pair. 'It probably would have been easier for us to deal with the media aspect of our relationship if everyone had loved Gigli,' he admits.

But Ben obviously isn't a fast learner. 'I broke up with Gwyneth Paltrow shortly before our film Bounce came out,' he says. 'And now here I am promoting another film with another ex-girlfriend. It seems like bad luck, but I think I've learned my lesson.'

Jersey Girl is out on Friday

MOVING ON...

Ben Ben's now got a new love, 26-year-old Enza Sambataro - say hello to 'Benenza'. Ben met Enza, who works at a US TV station, at a fund-raising event at a bowling alley - not terribly showbiz. And he's already been introduced to Mother Sambataro. 'Ben asked Enza to go to Italy and Mexico with him,' reveals a friend of Enz. 'But she said she had to go to New Hampshire to spend the weekend with her family, so he asked if he could come along.' Sounds kinda serious.

Jen There are already rumours Jen plans to marry her latest beau, actor Marc Anthony, who she's been seeing since shortly after she split with Ben. The pair first became close in 1998 when they worked together on her debut album, On The 6, but Marc was married. He's now divorcing his wife of four years, former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, and Jen's sporting a ring to rival the pounds 660,000 pink diamond she was given by Ben. The pair also plan to make a film together - oh dear.

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