While some could hardly wait to leave 2022 behind, Jennifer Lopez (53) likes to think back to the past year. "My best year, I think, since my kids were born," the singer and actress said in an interview with "Today".

Her "dream man" Ben Affleck (50) played a significant role in this. "We moved in together, the kids moved in together, so it was a really emotional transition," Lopez recalls, adding, "But at the same time, all dreams come true." It was "simply a phenomenal year," she summarizes.

Lopez looked back on this on December 31 with a video on Instagram. Alongside the clip, which included numerous pictures of the couple, she wrote: "2022 has been one of the best years ever!!! I can't wait to see what's to come next year."

After Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck had been dating in the noughties, they got back together in spring 2021. A short time later they got engaged. In July 2022, the two spontaneously married at "A Little White Wedding Chapel" in Las Vegas. Only a few family members and friends attended. A spectacular wedding weekend followed in August at Affleck's estate in the US state of Georgia, to which numerous guests were invited. "Bennifer" then spent their honeymoon in Italy.

The couple had already planned their wedding around 20 years ago. "Yes, we're engaged," Lopez confirmed in a late 2002 interview with US television network ABC. In 2004, the singer and the actor announced their separation after two years together. The 53-year-old married Marc Anthony (54) shortly afterwards. With him she had the twins Emme and Max (both 14) in 2008. Affleck also said yes to another: He married his fellow actress Jennifer Garner (50) in 2005, with whom he has three children: Violet (17), Seraphina (14) and Samuel (10).