Read more: Ben Affleck superb in Boston Irish drama 'The Town' now a likely Oscar contender

The 'Hereafter' actor - who has four-year-old Isabella, two-year-old Gia, and three-month old Stella with wife Luisiana, as well as raising her 11-year-old daughter Alexia from a previous marriage - is desperate to make progress on a venture he and his ‘Good Will Hunting’ writing partner have been discussing for a long time as their family commitments have always got in the way.

He said: "We've been talking about it for years, so hopefully we'll get to do it. But we also want to make our own film. We've been trying to work together again for 10 years now, but life has taken us in different directions.

"Having small kids is big. Most of your energy goes there. Having small kids and living in different cities just means that you don't see each other a lot."

Matt is a big fan of the work his friend – who has daughters Violet, five, and two-year-old Seraphina with wife Jennifer Garner – has done, both in acting and directing, and particularly admires the way Ben handles criticism.

He added: "When his film ‘The Town’ came out and just did so well I was so proud and happy. He dealt with a lot of s**t for a lot of years that was unjustified and was the butt of a lot of jokes. So to watch all those people who have to eat their words; he was a bigger man about it than I was. I'm petty enough to really care about that stuff and laugh at the demise of all these idiots that just don't know talent when they see it.

"There aren't many people who the industry views as just being able to pull an idea out of the air: write it, direct it and star in it. So now I'm just looking for a job from him."

Read more: Ben Affleck superb in Boston Irish drama 'The Town' now a likely Oscar contender