It seems we can thank a jealous child for Jason Bourne and Good Will Hunting.

In an interview on an upcoming episode of SiriusXM's The Jess Cagle Show, Ben Affleck discussed his beginnings in the entertainment industry, explaining that his career as a child actor "did two things." "One, it instilled in me a deep love and affection for this art and craft and line of work," Affleck says, "and it made Matt Damon so incredibly jealous, and drove him into a career in cinema. So I really take credit for that."

Affleck and Damon famously grew up together in Boston and were close friends throughout their youth, going on to co-write (and win Oscars for) the Good Will Hunting screenplay together. The pair also shared a drama teacher in high school; Damon later said Affleck got the "biggest roles and longest speeches."

Image zoom Ron Galella/Getty Images

In the Sirius interview, Affleck also shares stories from his early days of acting, recalling that his mom's best friend, a casting director, helped him get his start. "She was casting a kids' science and math adventure, sort of pre-Dora the Explorer show for PBS," Affleck says. "I was seven or eight, and ended up getting the part... Periodically, I would leave town, and go do this series, The Voyage of the Mimi. And it was cheesy, and I was embarrassed about it. It wasn't like I was coming back home and being like, 'You guys gotta see this! I'm so cool!'"

Affleck’s interview will air on The Jess Cagle Show Wednesday, March 4 at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT. You can watch a clip above.