Matt Damon - Damon Delighted With 'Cousin' Affleck

MATT DAMON was delighted to find out he is related to his best friend BEN AFFLECK - because the actor has always felt like family.

Researchers from the New England Historic Genealogical Society delved back through the pair's ancestry and uncovered a common 10th great-grandfather, William Knowlton, a bricklayer who hailed from 17th century Ipswich, England.

The news broke last month (Oct09) and Damon admits he felt giddy when he read the reports, because he has always believed he is linked to Affleck.

He tells the Boston Herald, "I always felt like we were kin. He always felt like kin. I remember when I got that story on my phone, I e-mailed it to him and at the same time he was e-mailing it to me."

But Damon couldn't help feeling envious when the research revealed Affleck is also distantly related to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Damon adds, "And then, it turns out, Ben is even related to Barack Obama! I’m very jealous."