Ralph Fiennes diverted attention from Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck romance

Ralph Fiennes once diverted the attention of paparazzi from budding romannce of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck back in 2002.

During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, Fiennes revealed the story behind his snaps of hugging JLo while they shot Maid in Manhattan.

“I was set up,” The English Patient star said. “I was asked out to dinner with J. Lo and her manager and her agent.”

“We had a nice dinner, chatty chatty chatty. [Afterward,] I think I was walking home, but [we gave each other a] peck on the cheek goodnight,” he added.

However, as they were saying their goodbyes, “a paparazzi - just one - pops up just as we did it, the goodnight chaste kiss.”

“But somehow, the pictures were angled so that as she’s walking away, [it looks like] I’m walking after her. And I think it said the next day [in the New York] Post, ‘It’s Ralph!'”

But the actor, who played the iconic role of Lord Voldemort in the fantasy movie series, has nothing but good wishes for Lopez and Affleck, now that they have tied the knot.

“My reaction [when I learned they got back together] was, ‘Good luck to them,'” Fiennes revealed.

The Marry Me star and Affleck were dating at the time while Lopez shot the romantic comedy-drama with Fiennes and parted ways two years later due to “excessive media attention.”