J Lo almost steals the show

Jennifer Lopez almost stole the show on Ben Affleck's big night - even though they're no longer a couple.

Affleck took his mum, Chris, as his date to the premiere of his new movie, Jersey Girl, in New York, which features a brief appearance by his ex.

J Lo plays his wife and the mother of their daughter.

"You mean Jennifer's not here?" the film's director Kevin Smith laughed as he chatted to reporters. "What? Why not?"

Later in the evening he continued with the running joke, telling the audience "we're just waiting for J Lo to show up."

The director insists that the film is great and says the failed romance is unlikely to hurt the movie.

"It's not really about their relationship; it's about Ben and the little kid. So if he and the little kid broke up, I'd have problems."

Affleck plays a single parent of a nine-year-old daughter, bringing up his child alone after the death of his wife (Lopez).