Already have an account?
Get back to the

Ben Affleck Admits to Counting Cards in Casinos, Says He Dedicated Himself To Being “Puffy and Hungover” For Gone Girl Role

Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck admits to counting cards and more to Details

Before Ben Affleck started pumping iron to take on the role of Batman, he dedicated himself to a "puffy and hungover" look for the upcoming film adaptation of Gone Girl. Portraying Nick Dunne, the husband who may or may not have something to do with his wife's disappearance, Affleck revealed to Details magazine that he dedicated himself to acting hungover for the role. Plus, it's true that he knows how to count cards — and really well!

Related: PHOTOS: Ben's bromances

"When you look at a movie and think, 'Oh, that's the real guy,' that's probably a good thing. You know what I mean? Like, in the book, for example, it said that he was puffy and hungover. And I dedicated myself to that, and I think it's quite convincing," Affleck, 42, said of portraying the embattled husband — suspected of murdering his wife — who gets drunk prior to a crucial news conference. 

"It was six months of real dedication to being hungover. It was extremely method," director David Fincher added of Affleck.

Related: PHOTOS: Hollywood's biggest bad boys

Affleck also admitted that he can relate to Nick's problems with media scrutiny (remember Bennifer?) and said that he strives to be honest every day like his character. "I definitely can remember times when I thought, 'Look, I'm just going to be myself and do what I want to do and live my life in a really honest way.'"

In that same spirit of honesty, Affleck confirmed reports from this past April that he'd been caught counting cards in a Las Vegas casino.

"That is a true story," Affleck said. "I mean, that took place. I took some time to learn the game and became a decent blackjack player. And once I became decent, the casinos asked me not to play blackjack. I mean, the fact that being good at the game is against the rules at the casinos should tell you something about casinos."

Related: PHOTOS: Ben and Jen's romance

So how did the Batman v. Supreme: Dawn of Justice actor get so good at the game? "I had always liked blackjack. I don't play any other games of chance. I don't bet on football games, and I don't gamble at all, really, outside of that," he said. "But I knew with blackjack that there's a way you can improve your odds. And so I started trying to learn. And then I just got to a point in my life where I'm like, 'If I'm going to do something, I'm going to try and do it really well.'"

Although Affleck admitted to counting cards, the Oscar winner laughed off reports he was physically escorted out of the casino. "No, I wish!" he said. "That would be awesome. [Like,] 'Get him outta here! He's a magician!' Unfortunately, they just came up and said, 'We can't let you play blackjack. But we have other table games! We have Chinese poker!'"

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!