Ben Affleck Says His Signature Angry Expression Has Everything To Do with His Kids

Ben Affleck is known for a lot of things. Currently, his marital drama (or lack thereof?) is at the top of the list, but there’s also his impressive acting career and his obsession with Dunkin’ Donuts. (To all the Dunkin’ haters, leave the proud New Englander alone!) And then there’s his face …

The Gone Girl star is known for his angry facial expression. In nearly every paparazzi photo, he looks so beyond pissed. And sure, few celebrities look thrilled in street photos, but there’s just something different about the actor’s face. He knows his look is the thing meme dreams are made of, and so he addressed it in a new interview with Kevin Hart on Hart to Heart.

“I’m also a little bit shy,” the Oscar winner said. “I also don’t like a lot of attention. That’s why people see me and they’re like, ‘Why’s this dude always mad?’ Because somebody has their camera and sticks it in my face and I’m like, ‘Okay, here we go.'”

He went on to say that this is also a family matter. He (understandably!) hates it when his picture is taken when he’s out with his kids Violet, 18, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12 who he shares with ex Jennifer Garner or with his stepkids Max and Emme who wife Jennifer Lopez shares with ex Marc Anthony.

“Also because I’m with my kids and they’re taking my picture,” he said.

“Actually, what I’d like to do is much more definitive than just look at you like this,” the Oscar winner continued. “I don’t mind, you can take my picture at a club or a premiere, with my wife, I don’t give a f*ck. Knock yourself out. I don’t notice you. But with my children that’s a different thing.”

And we can totally understand that. Affleck isn’t the only celebrity to try to shield their kids from paparazzi or the public eye. These kids didn’t ask to be thrust into the spotlight!

Affleck did concede that perhaps he just always looks angry — whether or not the paparazzi is around. “I’ll be sitting at home, and [my kids are] like, ‘What’s wrong?'” he said. ” … I’m like, ‘Nothing’ … I start thinking, is something wrong?”

Which of course prompted Hart to joke that the actor has “resting b*tch face.” Affleck shut that theory down saying he instead has “resting hard face.” (Whatever the macho hell that means.)

Before you go, check out these celebrities who fight to keep paparazzi away from their families.