( CNN ) -- And EW 's Entertainer of the Year is ... Ben Affleck ! Having captivated moviegoers both in front of and behind the camera with `` Argo , '' Ben Affleck earned the number one spot on our annual list of the most talented and original performers who entertained us in 2012 . Fifteen years after he bounded onto the Hollywood scene in 1997′s `` Good Will Hunting , '' the 40-year-old Affleck is now older and wiser — and may very well be headed back to the Oscar stage for his political thriller about the real-life covert CIA mission that freed six diplomats from Tehran during the Iran hostage crisis . `` I had very low expectations for 'Argo 's ' performance , '' says the leading man-turned-director . `` I just hoped that over time people would find the movie . Also , being at a place in my life and my career where I know what I 'm trying to do , it 's different than being 26 . When you 're younger and have the early success that I had — it sounds like the worst Hallmark cliche — but I did n't have anyone to share it with . I do n't mean I wanted someone to sit by the fire with . But when you have a family and children , you kind of see yourself reflected in them . I want to make the kinds of movies that my kids are proud of . I have higher standards , in a way , for them . '' Not that everyone back at the Affleck household was thrilled about his shaggy '70s Method hairdo and beard . Says Affleck of his wife Jennifer Garner 's reaction : `` My wife is a very polite and kind woman . She and the kids did not like the beard . It had an exposed wire vibe . It was hated in my home . '' EW Daily Poll : 'New Girl ' : Who 'd make the best match ? `` Argo '' producer George Clooney also weighs in on Affleck 's triumphant return to the A-list after a decade of ups and downs . `` Hollywood loves a comeback , and he 's an unbelievable comeback kid . '' Of course , Affleck is n't the only person who had a great year . That 's why we asked a select group of famous folks to offer their own tributes to the others who made our list : . Charlize Theron on the star of `` The Hunger Games '' and `` Silver Linings Playbook , '' Jennifer Lawrence : `` How is it that she can just stand there , not saying a word , and make us feel so much ? Her talent is undeniable , and she is a force to be reckoned with . '' Aziz Ansari on the cast of Showtime 's knotty conspiracy series `` Homeland '' : `` The turns are unexpectedly sharp , and the season 's plot has been aggressively paced in the best way . To put it bluntly , crazy s— just keeps happening . '' Nathan Fillion on geek godhead and `` Avengers '' director , Joss Whedon : `` He does what he does for the right reasons : this guy loves telling stories ... . There are millions of people who 've known of his talent for years , thanks to Buffy , Angel , and Firefly . Now it seems like everybody knows . '' For more on the Entertainers of the Year — including Channing Tatum , Seth MacFarlane , and Lena Dunham pick up the new copy of Entertainment Weekly , on stands November 29 . See original story at EW.com .
EW has named Ben Affleck its Person of the Year . He says ` ` the 40-year - old actor is now older and wiser '' He said his wife and kids did not like the beard he grew for ` ` Argo ''