Jennifer Garner opens up on split from Ben Affleck and his alleged affair with the nanny

JENNIFER Garner has finally opened up on her split with Ben Affleck in a loaded interview where she discusses his alleged affair with the nanny.

FILE - In this Oct. 30, 2015 file photo, Jennifer Garner arrives at the 29th American Cinematheque Awards honoring Reese Witherspoon in Los Angeles. Garner is asking Kentucky lawmakers to spend $1 million on an early-childhood education program. The star of the TV show "Alias" and movies including "Juno" and "Dallas Buyers Club" testified before the House budget committee on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, on behalf of Save The Children. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

JENNIFER Garner has finally opened up on her split with Ben Affleck in a loaded interview where she discusses his alleged affair with the nanny.

Speaking to reporter Krista Smith for Vanity Fair Garner revealed the family’s former nanny wasn’t the reason her marriage to Affleck ended.

“We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny. She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes. It’s not great for your kids for [a nanny] to disappear from their lives,” Garner said.

Jennifer Garner on the cover of Vanity Fair. Picture: Vanity Fair

“I have had to have conversations about the meaning of ‘scandal,’ ” she said, with her children.

The couple who were married for 10 years and have three children together announced their shock separation a day after celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary.

Ben was accused in the tabloids of having an affair with the family nanny, 28-year-old Christine Ouzounian, but has always denied it.

Christine Ouzounian, the 28-year-old former nanny to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. Picture: Splash News

“It was a real marriage,” she said.

“It wasn’t for the cameras. And it was a huge priority for me to stay in it. And that did not work.”

Since separating Garner revealed she has been suffering from insomnia and now shares a room with her daughter Violet.

She also said she has learnt to switch off from technology to avoid reading or seeing reports about her marriage breakdown.

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have been pictured together since their separation taking the kids out. Picture: Splash News

“I cannot be driven by the optics of this. I cannot let anger or hurt be my engine. I need to move with the big picture always on my mind, and the kids first and foremost.”

But despite her obvious sadness at the separation Garner still spoke lovingly of Affleck in the Vanity Fair interview, describing him as the love of her life.

“I always say, ‘When his sun shines on you, you feel it.’ But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold. He can cast quite a shadow,” she said.