Ben Affleck’s unique tattoos provide a glimpse into the mind of one of Hollywood’s elite. Affleck has created an award winning acting/directing career spanning decades and crossing every conceivable genre.
Initially cast as a bully and heel in early films like Kevin Smith’s Mallrats and Richard Linklater’s seminal coming of age film Dazed and Confused, the turning point in Affleck’s career came with the success of Good Will Hunting.
Since then, Affleck has largely escaped the pigeonholes of many Hollywood leading men, demonstrating versatility and range as an actor, writer, Oscar winning producer, and director.
Affleck has certainly had his fair share of controversy and his personal life has often been held to the scrutiny of the paparazzi’s lens. Despite the public nature of both his successes and failures—several high-profile relationships have crashed and burned and personal battles with addiction have been cast in the public eye—Ben Affleck remains a powerhouse in Hollywood that is unashamed of his humanity, including his interesting and unique collection of tattoos.
How Many Tattoos Does Ben Affleck Have?
Affleck has five tattoos, from small cover-ups to a stunning, full back piece. That variety of subjects and styles demonstrate the eclectic tastes of the actor, providing a glimpse into the psyche of one of Hollywood’s most prolific artists.
1. Full Back Phoenix Tattoo
Most recently, Ben’s ink has been back in the limelight with the unveiling of a large, full back tattoo of a Phoenix applied in vibrant colors. When the tattoo was first glimpsed and reported on by The Daily Mail, it was speculated the piece was perhaps a temporary tattoo for an upcoming film role. After the rumored ink was not featured in Affleck’s recent movies speculation shifted. Finally, after Affleck was snapped shirtless at the beach, images of the massive design hit the front page of celebrity magazines around the world.
The symbolism of rebirth after struggle associated with the Phoenix is powerful imagery, many have surmised that this tattoo represents overcoming the difficult and painful divorce from longtime partner and mother of his children, Jennifer Garner. Ben has stated that this piece “represents something really important to me”, so this interpretation seems likely.
The rest of the celebrity universe has chimed on Ben’s new ink. Former flame Jennifer Lopez said “It’s awful!”, while Garner had a more nuanced reaction. According to a Vanity Fair article: “…Garner’s main issue with the tattoo was its admittedly on-the-nose symbolism; ‘Am I the ashes in this scenario?’ she wondered. ‘I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes.’”
Ben’s own explanation maintains a commendable sense of humor, telling Ellen DeGeneres: “It’s a phoenix rising from my ass,” when asked about the ink during an interview.
2. Small Dolphin Tattoo
The smallest and least visible of Ben’s tattoos, a small dolphin is located on the lower back/right hip and could be easily missed. The simplicity of the shape and lack of color give it the appearance of being old and low quality, which is most likely why he isn’t in a rush to show it off to the world. According to Ben the dolphin is a cover up of a previous tattoo of his high school sweetheart’s name, and in recent photographs it appears to have been removed.
3. ‘OV’ Tattoo
Located on his right shoulder blade, Ben has a tattoo that uses script and a rudimentary approach to create an enigmatic design. Featuring several script styles, including the highly ornate lettering in the ‘OV’, it appears to be a piece that has aged and faded over time. Above the ‘OV’ the letters ‘MOH NON TE” is inscribed while below ‘TA OR’ completes the design.
This mysterious piece has drawn speculation from those in the industry, ranging from his relationship with Garner, to memorializing his high-profile battles with addiction. According to a Gawker article: “It anagrams to ‘one month’. Maybe in AA he was so happy to have gone one month without VO he celebrated with a tattoo?”
4. Left Shoulder Cross Tattoo
On his left bicep and shoulder, Ben sports a piece that he has continued to upgrade over the years. Originally a stylized cross, a variety of flowers have been added to the design. They utilize color to create a more vibrant and eye-catching piece. Like many people, Affleck feels tattoos are extensions of one’s personality and as such, feels free to update them to create a dynamic piece that grows and changes over time in accordance with the wearer’s evolution.
5. Right Bicep Piece
Another tattoo that has continued to evolve along with Ben is the piece on his right bicep. Originally, he got a coil of barbed wire wrapping around his bicep, as was the fashion in the 1990’s. Along with this now passé design, a cross with playing cards was incorporated into the piece and was left unchanged for a number of years.
More recently Ben has continued to upgrade this ink in a few ways. The barbed wire piece was covered up with a garland of roses, increasing the visual appeal of the piece with the addition of a tattoo classic. This tattoo is completed by a tree design covering up other existing ink, and tieing the entire piece together.
A Down to Earth Approach
Despite his status as one of Hollywood’s A-Listers, Ben continues to maintain a down to earth attitude when it comes to his tattoos. He sees them for what they are, profound testaments to who he was at specific points in his life and reminders of the never-ending growth that individuals go through.
Way back in 2000, when Ben was asked about his ink, he responded, “I was young. It was fun and cool,” he said. “I’m sorry now,but it is a good lesson in decisions that have important and long repercussions.”
If only Ben from 2000 could see Ben from 2015’s new Phoenix tattoo, what would he have to say?