Ben Affleck hasn't always had positive things to say about his relationship with former girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, but in his recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he changed his tune. 

In the magazine's cover story, Affleck said he and Lopez share a mutual respect for one another and do keep in touch.

"We don't have the kind of relationship where she relies on me for advice, but we do have the kind of relationship where there'll be an e-mail saying, 'Oh, your movie looks great,' " he said. "I remember when she got 'American Idol'. I said: 'This was really smart. Good luck.' I touch base. I respect her. I like her. She's put up with some stuff that was unfair in her life, and I'm really pleased to see her successful." 

Affleck attributed his success as a director to his wife Jennifer Garner, whom he met on the set of "Daredevil." With the help of Garner, he decided to trust his instincts and outline some goals he wished to accomplish.

He told himself, "Here are the things I'd like to do: I want to direct movies, and I want to be in a movie that I'm enormously proud of. I want to have kids."

Affleck credits his relationship with Garner for helping him discover what he's truly passionate about. 

"Jennifer played such a profound role in making me a better person,"  Affleck told the magazine. "We don't have a perfect marriage, but she inspired me; and finding myself in that marriage and having a child dovetailed with getting to be a little more mature." 

But the actor/director jokingly complained that his wife is too nice.  

"She truly is kind. She means no one any harm. She doesn't have ill will for any person. She's not competitive with other people. She's not spiteful. ... It's one of those things where it becomes almost aggravating at times. Every time I go, 'F-- him!' I see in her face that she just thinks that's petty and small," he said.  

Affleck not only directed the film "Argo," but also stars in it. The movie is based on a true story about a CIA operative who goes undercover to help six American hostages escape from Iran in 1979. It debuts in theaters on Oct. 12. 

In the October issue of Details magazine, Affleck also made reference to his past relationship with Lopez.

"If you were looking at that one-liner on me in 2003, [it] was definitely the annus horribilis," Affleck said about the year he made up half of "Bennifer." 

Tags: Ben Affleck Jennifer Lopez