Ben Affleck says Bruce Willis told him not to make “Shakespeare in Love”
Ben Affleck says Bruce Willis told him not to make “Shakespeare in Love”
Wesley StenzelTue, October 13, 2026 at 8:26 PM UTC
0
Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck in New York City on Nov. 13, 2000Credit: Sonia Moskowitz/Getty“He was wrong about that one. But he hadn’t read the script, in all fairness.”Key points -
Ben Affleck said that Bruce Willis advised him not to make Shakespeare in Love while they were filming Armageddon.
Willis also advised the Gone Girl star to change his voice.
Affleck also shared memories of another Armageddon costar, Billy Bob Thornton.
Ben Affleck is reflecting on words of wisdom from his Armageddon costars.
The Animals star said that Bruce Willis, who starred in the 1998 sci-fi thriller alongside him, offered a little advice on how to advance his career as a movie star.
“Bruce Willis once turned to me and was like, ‘Your voice is too high,’” Affleck recalled during an interview with Happy Sad Confused. “I was like, ‘What?’ He was like, ‘Don’t have that high voice.’ I was like, ‘Bruce, that’s just my voice. Can I change that?’”
He said that Willis added, “You don’t wanna sound like that, man! I’m helping you out!”
Ben Affleck on April 18, 2026; Bruce Willis on Oct. 11, 2019Credit: Jesse Grant/Getty; Theo Wargo/Getty
Affleck clarified that he thought Willis was “the sweetest guy in the world,” and that he was giving genuine advice. “I love Bruce,” he said. “And he really was giving me a tip.”
The Gone Girl star also said that Willis advised against playing a supporting role in Shakespeare in Love. “He also was like, ‘Man, don’t go do that Shakespeare movie, man. You don’t wanna do that movie,’” Affleck recalled. “He was wrong about that one. But he hadn’t read the script, in all fairness.”
Advertisement
Shakespeare in Love went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars in 1999. In the film, Affleck portrayed Ned Alleyn, an actor who appears in Shakespeare’s productions at the Globe.
Elsewhere in the conversation, Affleck shared his memories of another Armageddon costar, Billy Bob Thornton.
“I remember Billy Bob, we were doing [Armageddon] after Good Will Hunting,” he said. “Billy had won the Oscar for writing the year before. It was Sling Blade, which was a movie we just worshiped.”
Ben Affleck in ‘Shakespeare in Love’Credit: Miramax/Courtesy Everett
Affleck said that Thornton teased him and his Good Will Hunting cowriter, Matt Damon, about their victory. “I saw Billy after the Oscars at some party, and he was like ‘So let me ask you a question. Do they give you guys like half an Oscar ’cause you both wrote it?’” Affleck recalled. “‘Did you get half of one? What the f--- they give you guys? You get a fraction of Oscar? You know mine’s a whole one, right? I do got a whole one.’ Billy’s a funny f---ing guy.”
Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.
Affleck added that Thornton brought his irreverent demeanor to Michael Bay’s Armageddon set. “He was in that movie like, ‘Michael, I’m just wondering what the f--- we’re doing here,’” he remembered. “‘I mean, I generally like to be in the kind of movies that make sense. But f--- it, okay, we don’t have to do that on this one. F--- it, we don’t have to make any sense. I just thought maybe, make some sense. But I guess not.’”
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
