Jennifer Garner won the hearts of millions of fans with her impeccable acting and genuine charm. She has proven her versatile talent throughout her career, starting from her breakthrough role on the hit TV show Alias to unforgettable characters in films like 13 Going on 30 and Dallas Buyers Club. An actress can equally masterfully play roles in drama, comedy, fantasy or action. Her down-to-earth personality has made her one of Hollywood’s most loved celebrities. Read more about the childhood, career and personal life of the movie star further on houstonski.
Conservative upbringing
Jennifer Anne Garner was born on April 17, 1972 in Houston to a chemical engineer and an English teacher. At the age of 3, she moved with her family to the city of Charleston (West Virginia). At the same time, she started practicing ballet.
Every Sunday, the girl attended the United Methodist Church. She also visited Vacation Bible School during the holidays. Jennifer and her sisters were brought up quite conservatively. As teenagers, they were forbidden to use make-up, paint their nails, pierce their ears and dye their hair. All her young years, Jennifer continued to dance but did not dream of a choreographic career.
Acting education
In Charleston, Jennifer studied at George Washington High School. After her graduation, she entered Denison University (Ohio), where she studied drama. She also studied at the National Theater Institute (Connecticut). In 1994, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater performance. It’s worth noticing that Jennifer did not dream of acting but wanted to become a doctor or a librarian.
Career
In 1995, Jennifer worked as a stand-in in the play A Month in the Country as part of the New York theater troupe Roundabout Theater Company. In the same year, she got a role in the TV movie Zoya and starred in several episodes of Spin City and Law & Order. Such small roles made it possible to enter the film industry.
In 2000, Garner made her big screen debut in the fantasy youth comedy Dude, Where’s My Car? Although the film received negative reviews from critics, it became a cult after its release on DVD. A year later, she appeared in a secondary role in the military melodrama Pearl Harbor. The film won an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing and was nominated for a Golden Globe.
In 2001, Jennifer was offered a role in the spy drama series Alias. The actress agreed although the role required a lot of physical effort. For this work, she received a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, 4 Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama and an Emmy nomination.
In 2002, she appeared in Steven Spielberg’s detective drama Catch Me If You Can, based on true events. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks star in the film. In 2003, Garner got a breakthrough role in the superhero action movie Daredevil. It was the adaptation of the Marvel comics about a blind superhero Daredevil. The main role was played by Ben Affleck and Garner played Elektra Natchios, with whom Daredevil was in love.
In 2004, Jennifer got the main role in the fantasy comedy 13 Going On 30. According to the plot, 13-year-old schoolgirl Jenna Rink dreams of becoming a 30-year-old woman to be as beautiful as the models from her favorite magazines. Her wish comes true. The next morning, Jenna wakes up as a 30-year-old editor of a famous magazine.
In 2006–2007, Garner starred in the romantic comedy Catch and Release, the action drama The Kingdom and the comedy drama Juno. In 2007, she also made her Broadway debut with the play Cyrano de Bergerac. In 2010, Garner starred in the romantic comedy Valentine’s Day together with Ashton Kutcher, Julia Roberts, Jessica Alba and Bradley Cooper… The film tells 10 stories of different people that take place in Los Angeles. Jennifer played the role of a woman caught in a loveless relationship.
In 2011-2012, Garner appeared in the romantic comedy Arthur, the comedy-drama The Odd Life of Timothy Green and the comedy Butter. In 2013, Garner appeared in the biographical drama Dallas Buyers Club with Matthew McConaughey. The film was a box office success and received favorable reviews.
The following year, she co-starred with Kevin Costner in the sports drama Draft Day and the Disney adaptation of the children’s book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. In 2015, Jennifer played a secondary role in the comedy-drama Danny Collins starring Al Pacino. A year later, she starred in the comedy Nine Lives and the Christian drama Miracles from Heaven.
In 2017, Garner joined the cast of the dramas Wakefield and The Tribes of Palos Verdes. In 2018, fans saw their favorite actress in the drama Love, Simon, about a 17-year-old gay man who hides his sexual orientation. At the same time, she became the main character of the action film Peppermint about a woman who takes revenge for the murder of her family.
In 2021, Jennifer appeared in the role of mother Allison Torres in the family comedy Yes Day, which also starred Jenna Ortega, the main character of the Wednesday series. The film received mixed reactions from critics. In 2022, the Houstonian appeared in the role of Ellie Reed in the science fiction film The Adam Project. A year later she was seen in the television thriller series The Last Thing He Told Me.
Private life
In 2000, Garner married Scott Foley, whom she met while filming Felicity. After 3 years, they divorced.
A year after the divorce, she began dating actor Ben Affleck, with whom she starred in Pearl Harbor and Daredevil. Garner and Affleck married in 2005 in a private ceremony in the Caribbean. The bride was 4 months pregnant at the time. The couple had three children. In 2015, they announced their intention to end their marriage, finally ending the divorce process after three years.
In the same year, Garner began dating businessman and lawyer John Miller. In 2020, the couple briefly broke up but reunited a year later.
Interesting facts
- Jennifer Garner was actively involved in various charitable causes. She is an ambassador for the international NGO Save the Children and has worked on projects to improve education and nutrition for young children.
- The actress is the co-founder of the baby food company Once Upon a Farm, which makes organic food for babies and toddlers.
- Garner is a passionate animal lover. During her life, she sheltered several dogs and chickens.
- The star has participated in various political campaigns and used her platform to raise awareness about important social issues.
- Jennifer Garner maintains a healthy lifestyle. Her favorite activities include yoga, hiking and pilates.
- Due to her soothing voice, she was often invited to voice animation and documentaries.
- Jennifer participated in several charity races, including the Boston Marathon.
- The actress is a feminist. She has repeatedly supported and created projects focused on women and gender equality.