Jennifer Garner refused to film scenes in front of Ricky Gervais for their new movie. The 37-year-old actress found working with the British comic star, who wrote, directed and starred in "The Invention of Lying," impossible because he kept bursting into laughter and ruining their scenes.

She explained: "Ricky is very specific about things, although the worst thing about him as a director is that if something is funny at all - and it was very improvisational - he breaks and laughs and ruins your take."

Jennifer Garner's three-year-old daughter thinks she's a mermaid. The "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" star says Violet - her child with husband Ben Affleck - is confused as to whether she is a person or the mythical half-woman, half-fish creature.

The 37-year-old actress said: "She asked, 'Am I a baby? Am I grown up? Am I a mermaid? Am I a human being? I don't know who or what I am!'"

Jennifer Garner asks Reese Witherspoon for parenting tips. The "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" actress - who has daughters Violet, three, and three-month-old Seraphina with husband Ben Affleck - confessed she is in awe of Reese's mothering skills.

Jennifer said: "I always quiz Reese about how she does it. I feel like she does a really good job."

Ben Affleck is dreading the day his daughters start dating. The "State of Play" actor tries not to think about three-year-old Violet and three-month-old Seraphina - his daughters with wife Jennifer Garner - bringing home boys, adding he will be very protective of them when they do.

Asked how he will feel when his children begin attracting suitors, Ben replied: "I'm already planning on it - practicing the rocking-chair-and-rifle routine."

Ben Affleck wants to have a son. The actor - whose wife Jennifer Garner gave birth to second daughter Seraphina Rose last month - is keen to keep expanding his brood until they have a boy.

A source close to Ben - who also has three-year-old daughter Violet with Jennifer - said: "Ben's happy to keep going until he gets his boy. He has visions of dressing a little guy in Boston Red Sox gear, tossing a baseball around and cheering in the stands together."