Aside from acting, Garner works as an advocate for early childhood education and serves on the board ofSave the Children USA. She is also the co-founder and chief brand officer of Once Upon a Farm, an organic baby food company. Additionally, Garner is a vocal advocate for anti-paparazzi campaigns aimed at protecting the children of celebrities.
Jennifer Anne Garner was born on April 17, 1972, inHouston, Texas and moved toCharleston, West Virginia at age three. Her father, William John Garner, received his undergraduate and graduate degree in chemical engineering fromTexas A&M University and worked as a chemical engineer forUnion Carbide; her mother, Patricia Ann English, was a homemaker and later an English teacher at a local college.[2][3][4] She has two sisters.[5][6] Garner has described herself as a typical middle child who sought to differentiate herself from her accomplished older sister.[7][8] While Garner did not grow up in a politically active household,[9] her father was "veryconservative" and her mother "quietlyblue".[10] She attended a localUnited Methodist Church every Sunday and went toVacation Bible School.[11] As teenagers, she and her sisters were not allowed to wear makeup, paint their nails, pierce their ears, or dye their hair;[12][13] she has joked that her family's "take on the world" was "practicallyAmish".[14]
As a college student, Garner performed insummer stock theatre. In addition to performing, Garner helped sell tickets, build sets, and clean the venues.[22][23] She worked at theTimber Lake Playhouse in Mount Carroll, Illinois, in 1992,[24] the Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, in 1993,[25] and theGeorgia Shakespeare Festival inAtlanta, Georgia, in 1994.[26] Garner moved to New York City in 1995.[27] During her first year in the city, Garner earned $150 per week as an understudy for aRoundabout Theatre Company production ofA Month in the Country[8][28] and made her first on-screen appearance asMelissa Gilbert's daughter in the romance miniseriesZoya.[29] In 1996, she played an Amish woman in the television movieHarvest of Fire[30] and a shopkeeper in the Western miniseriesDead Man's Walk.[31] She appeared in the independent short filmIn Harm's Way[32] and made one-off appearances inSpin City, and the legal dramasSwift Justice andLaw & Order. Garner also supplemented her income by working as a hostess at a restaurant on theUpper West Side,[33] as well as by doing some babysitting, specifically watching Madeleine Colbert, the daughter ofStephen and Evie Colbert.[34][35]
After moving to Los Angeles in 1997, Garner gained her first leading role in the television filmRose Hill[36] and made her first feature film appearance in the period dramaWashington Square.[37] She appeared in the comedy filmMr. Magoo, the independent drama1999 andWoody Allen'sDeconstructing Harry, though most of her performance was cut from the film.[38] In 1998, Garner appeared in an episode ofFantasy Island and was cast as a series regular in theFox dramaSignificant Others,[39] but Ken Tucker ofEntertainment Weekly thought there was "no center" to the character as played by Garner.[40] Fox canceled the series after airing three of six filmed episodes. Garner's most significant role of 1998 was inJ. J. Abrams' college drama seriesFelicity.[41] In 1999, Garner was cast as a series regular in another Fox drama series,Time of Your Life, but it was canceled midway through the first season.[42] Also in 1999, she appeared in the miniseriesAftershock: Earthquake in New York and in two episodes of the action drama seriesThe Pretender.
WhileAlias was airing, Garner continued to work in film intermittently. She had an "other-worldly" experience whenSteven Spielberg called to offer her a role as a high-class call girl in the crime comedy-drama filmCatch Me If You Can (2002).[47] After seeing her inAlias, Spielberg was sure that "she would be the next superstar".[48] She filmed her scene oppositeLeonardo DiCaprio during a one-day shoot.[49] Garner's first co-starring film role was in the action superhero filmDaredevil (2003), in which she playedElektra toBen Affleck's Daredevil.[50] The physicality required for the role was something Garner had discovered "an aptitude for" through her work onAlias.[47][51] Elvis Mitchell ofThe New York Times wrote that she "realizes Elektra more through movement than by way of her lumpy, obvious lines. She hasn't mastered the combat skill of tossing off bad material."[52] WhileDaredevil received mixed reviews, it was a box office success.[53] Also in 2003, she voiced herself in an episode ofThe Simpsons.
Garner's first leading film role, in the romantic comedy13 Going on 30 (2004), was widely praised. She played a teenager who finds herself trapped in the body of a thirty-year-old. Garner choseGary Winick to direct the film[54] and they continued to look for other projects to do together until his death in 2011.[55][56] Manohla Dargis of theLos Angeles Times found her to be "startling": "Whenever she's on screen you don't want to look anywhere else."[57] Owen Gleiberman ofEntertainment Weekly called it an "utterly beguiling" performance, writing, "You can pinpoint the moment in it when Garner becomes a star."[58] Ann Hornaday ofThe Washington Post remarked: "Garner is clearly cut out to be America's next Sweetheart; she has the same magic mix of allure and accessibility that the job calls for."[59]13 Going on 30 grossed $96 million worldwide.[60] Garner reprised the character of Elektra in the 2005Daredevil spin-off filmElektra; it was a box office and critical failure.[61] Claudia Puig ofUSA Today concluded that Garner "is far more appealing when she's playing charming and adorable, as she did so winningly in13 Going on 30".[62] Garner next starred in the romantic dramaCatch and Release. Although filmed in 2005 in between seasons ofAlias, it was not released until early 2007 and failed to recoup its production budget.[63] Peter Travers ofRolling Stone praised Garner's ability "to blend charm and gravity"[64] but Peter Hartlaub of theSan Francisco Chronicle felt that, while her "natural beauty and likability are still assets, [she] seems occasionally challenged by what should be an easy role".[65]
After a one-year break following the conclusion ofAlias, her wedding to Affleck, and the birth of her first child, Garner returned to work in 2007. Her supporting role inJuno as a woman desperate to adopt a child was described by Kyle Buchanan ofNew York Magazine as a turning point in her career: "She came into the movie a steely figure, and left it as the mother you'd give your own child to ... WriterDiablo Cody and directorJason Reitman expertly deploy Garner's innate humanity as a trump card."[66] Lisa Schwarzbaum ofEntertainment Weekly said Garner had never "been lovelier or more affecting".[67] Also that same year, she played an FBI investigator in the action thrillerThe Kingdom.[68][69] She was nursing her baby during filming in Arizona and was hospitalized on two occasions with heatstroke.[70]
In late 2007 and early 2008, Garner played Roxanne toKevin Kline'sCyrano de Bergerac at theRichard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway. In preparation for the role, Garner worked with vocal and movement coaches and took French lessons.[28] Ben Brantley ofThe New York Times described her performance as "captivating": "Ms. Garner, I am pleased to report, makes Roxane a girl worth pining over ... [She] speaks Anthony Burgess's peppery rhymed translation with unaffected sprightliness. If she's a tad stilted in the big tragic finale, her comic timing is impeccable."[71]The New Yorker's theater critic was impressed by her "feistiness" and "lightness of comic touch".[72] The play was recorded before a live audience and aired onPBS in 2008. In 2007, Garner became a spokesperson of skin care brand Neutrogena.[73]
Garner co-starred in two romantic comedies in 2009. She first appeared inGhosts of Girlfriends Past, portraying the childhood friend of a famous photographer and womanizer. While the film received lukewarm reviews, it grossed $102.2 million worldwide.[74] Michael Phillips ofThe Chicago Tribune found Garner "easy to like and sharp with her timing"; he was disappointed to see her as "the love interest, which is not the same as a rounded character".[75] Similarly, Manohla Dargis ofThe New York Times was dismayed to see Garner appear as "less a co-star than a place holder (you can almost see the words "enter generic female lead" in [the] screenplay)".[76]
Garner's second performance of 2009 was in comedianRicky Gervais's directorial debutThe Invention of Lying. Gervais was keen to cast Garner—"always happy and always pleasant to everyone"—against type.[77] In the film, she played the love interest of the first human with the ability to lie in a world where people can only tell the truth. Reviews for the movie were mixed and it made $32.4 million worldwide.[78] David Edelstein ofNew York Magazine said Garner "proves again (the first time was13 Going on 30) what a dizzying comedienne she is. She looks as if the wheels in her head are not just turning but falling off and needing to be screwed back on,"[79] while Mick LaSalle of theSan Francisco Chronicle said Garner "has never been better onscreen ... Garner gets to show a comic facility we haven't seen before."[80]
Garner played a mother for the first time in 2012,[7] in the dramaThe Odd Life of Timothy Green, which followed a magical pre-adolescent boy whose personality and naïveté have profound effects on the people in his town.[84] The film received mixed reviews from critics and made a modest $56 million worldwide.[85][86] Claudia Puig ofUSA Today found Garner "convincing as a warm-hearted, if tense, mom"[87] while Michael Phillips of theChicago Tribune said she brought "fervent sincerity and a welcome touch of comic eccentricity" to the role.[88] That same year, Garner produced and starred in the satirical comedyButter, in which she played an overly competitive and socially ambitious woman participating in a localbutter sculpturing competition in a small Iowa town. Distributed for a limited release in certain parts of the United States only,Butter received mixed reviews and grossed $105,018.[89][90] Peter Debruge ofVariety praised "the best bigscreen use of Jennifer Garner's comedy gifts since13 Going on 30".[91] while Peter Travers ofRolling Stone described her as the "best in show": "[She] knows how to play comedy of the absurd."[92] However, Scott Bowles ofUSA Today remarked: "Garner is a terrific actress, but here she's asked to cackle her lines in a voice a full octave above her natural one."[93] Also in 2012, she appeared in the YouTube shortSerena,[94] and became a spokesperson for food company Luvo.[95]
Garner reunited withMatthew McConaughey in the 2013 biographical dramaDallas Buyers Club, portraying the role of a doctor treatingAIDS patients in Texas during the mid-1980s.[96][97] The film received significant acclaim and was a box office success.[98] Peter Travers ofRolling Stone described Garner as "a radiant actress of rare spirit and sensitivity"[99] and Betsy Sharkey of theLos Angeles Times said: "Garner is once again cast as a quintessentially decent, all-American girl, albeit a doctor. But the question of whether the actress has deeper emotional layers to bring to the screen is not answered here."[100] David Edelstein ofNew York magazine said: "It's not a well-shaped role, but I've gotten to the point where I'm happy to see Garner in anything. She's incapable of phoniness."[101] Also in 2013, Garner became the first celebrity spokesperson of the Italian fashion brandMax Mara.[102]
In 2014, Garner starred in the sports dramaDraft Day, as the fictional salary cap analyst of theCleveland Browns. Critical reception toward the film was mixed and Mick LaSalle ofThe San Francisco Chronicle, describing her part, remarked: "It's not much of a role, but she's perfectly nice in it. Perhaps someday someone will give Garner a chance to be something other than perfectly nice."[103] Garner also co-starred withSteve Carell in the 2014 Disney adaptation of the popular children's bookAlexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, taking on the role of the mother of the titular character. The film grossed $101 million worldwide.[104] Sandie Angulo Chen of theWashington Post said: "Garner, who has long mastered the art of playing harried and overworked moms, is pleasantly frazzled."[105] Her other film role in 2014 was that of an overprotective mother in the dramedyMen, Women & Children, directed byJason Reitman and co-starringRosemarie DeWitt,Judy Greer,Dean Norris, andAdam Sandler. The film made $2.2 million worldwide,[106] and Christopher Orr ofThe Atlantic said: "Garner does what she can as the Snooping Mom from Hell, but ultimately it's not much. The role is like a caricature of her performance inJuno, minus the ultimate (and essential) redemption."[107] In late 2014,Capital One signed Garner as their spokesperson for their Capital One Venture Air Miles credit card.[108]
Garner in 2018
In 2015'sDanny Collins, a drama inspired by the true story of folk singerSteve Tilston and starringAl Pacino andAnnette Bening, Garner played the supporting role of the wife ofBobby Cannavale's character. The film was released in selected cinemas and was warmly received by critics; Stephanie Merry ofThe Washington Post felt Garner gave the movie "a powerful jolt of emotion".[109] In 2016, Garner appeared in the Christian dramaMiracles from Heaven, playing the mother of a young girl who had a near-death experience and was later cured of an incurable disease. The film grossed $73.9 million worldwide[110] and received generally mixed reviews from critics, who felt it "makes the most out of an outstanding performance" from Garner.[111] Ken Jaworowski ofThe New York Times praised a "dedicated" and "heartfelt" performance,[112] while Nigel Smith ofThe Guardian found "her subtly wrought work ... tremendously effective" in an otherwise "crassly manipulative" film.[113] Also in 2016, Garner starred in the critically panned comedyNine Lives, playing the second wife of a workaholic father who has his mind trapped inside of his daughter's new cat. Garner made an uncredited cameo appearance inMother's Day (2016).
In 2022, Garner starred in the science fiction action filmThe Adam Project, which reunited her with her13 Going on 30 co-starMark Ruffalo. That same year, she made a guest appearance in an episode of theAmazon Prime Video science fiction comedy seriesUpload.
Garner starred as Jess Walker in the family comedy filmFamily Switch, which was released onNetflix in November 2023. Also that year, it was revealed that Garner would reprise her role as Elektra Natchios in theMarvel Cinematic Universe superhero filmDeadpool & Wolverine, which was released on July 26, 2024.[126]
In a 2002 episode of the action thriller seriesAlias, titled "Rendezvous", Garner sang a version of the song "Since I Fell For You", to which she wrote her own lyrics. She also sang "My Funny Valentine" when hosting a 2003 episode of the sketch comedy seriesSaturday Night Live, on whichBeck was the musical guest; she was not credited for either performance. Garner was one of the fourteen actors, not generally known for singing, who participated in the compilation albumUnexpected Dreams – Songs from the Stars, released on April 4, 2006, on which album she sang a solo version of "My Heart Is So Full Of You", fromFrank Loesser'sThe Most Happy Fella; the original version had been a duet.Victor Garber, who she co-starred with inAlias, was another such actor on the same compilation album. In 2016, Garner sang "Doin' It (All for My Baby)" in theGarry Marshall comedy-dramaMother's Day, and in 2021, sheinterpreted theFour Tops's 1964 chart selection "Baby I Need Your Loving" in the family comedyYes Day.[127]
Garner with a preschooler at aCapitol Hill event in 2013
In 2009, Garner became an artist ambassador forSave the Children USA, promoting national literacy, nutrition, and early education efforts.[128][129] Since 2014,[130] Garner has served on the board of trustees for the organization,[131][132][133] advocating for early childhood education.[134] As an ambassador, she frequently visits with families involved in the organization's Early Steps to School Success program, which coaches families to help children learn in the early years.[135]
In 2011, Garner partnered with Frigidaire as part of her work with Save the Children.[136] In 2013, Garner took her eldest daughter Violet to a Save the Children gala in New York: "My husband and I have never taken our kids to a public event before, but I brought my daughter Violet, because ... I want her to see the passionate commitmentMark Shriver andHillary Clinton have to make the world a better place for everyone."[137] In 2014, she joined the Invest in Us campaign.[132] In 2015, she appeared inA Path Appears, a PBS documentary that focuses on rural poverty among children in West Virginia.[138]
In 2002, Garner filmed a 30-second television advertisement for her childhood friendCorey Palumbo, who was running as a Democratic candidate for theWest Virginia House of Delegates.[139] In 2006, she spoke at a rally in support of Democratic congressional candidateJerry McNerney in Pleasanton, California.[140] In 2007, Garner said she was "not a particularly outwardly political person".[70] Also in 2007, she appeared in a global warming awareness video produced by theCenter for American Progress Action Fund.[141]
In 2008, she hosted two fund-raisers for Barack Obama during the2008 Democratic Primary.[142][143] In 2014, Garner donated $25,000 to the campaign of Democratic politicianWendy Davis.[144] During the 2016 presidential campaign, Garner hosted a fundraiser in support of Hillary Clinton in Bozeman, Montana.[145] Garner also attended voter registration and phone bank events in support of Clinton in Reno, Nevada.[146]
Garner has campaigned for laws to protect her children from paparazzi, stating in 2013: "There's an idea that because our pictures are everywhere that we are complicit in it. When really what happens is they're waiting outside our door every single day."[147] In August 2013, Garner testified before the California Assembly Judiciary Committee in support of a bill that would protect celebrities' children from harassment by photographers.[148] Her six-year-old daughter made a speech about her personal experiences at a private event in support of the bill.[149] The bill passed in September 2013 and is now California law.[150] While photographs of children may still be taken, behavior which "seriously alarms, annoys, torments, or terrorizes" children is illegal, as is "lying in wait" outside their various activities.[151] In 2014, her then-husband Affleck argued in favor of a United Kingdom-style system, where "you have to blur out the face[s]" of minor children in published photographs.[152] In 2014, Garner spoke in support of the "No Kids" policy, which was adopted by many media organizations and forbids publication of photos of celebrities' children. She described the paparazzi interest as "gross": "Our hope is maybe our kids won't be so recognizable in a few years."[153][154]
In 2019, Garner reflected on "a solid decade where there were five or six cars minimum, and easily up to 15 or 20 on the weekends, outside of my house at all times". While she said the situation had improved since the legislation was passed, she noted that "seven or eight" photographers still regularly wait outside her children's school to photograph them from a distance and that she sometimes requires police assistance when they get too close.[155]
Garner and John Foraker co-founded the organic, fresh baby food company Once Upon a Farm in 2018; Garner is also the company's chief brand officer. In 2019, Once Upon a Farm became the first refrigerated baby food available toWIC-eligible families.[156]
In partnership withSave the Children, Garner and her team remain dedicated to bringing 'A Million Meals' to children across America in food insecure communities.[157]
Garner met co-starScott Foley on the set ofFelicity in 1998.[2] They married in a ceremony at their home on October 19, 2000. The pair separated in March 2003.[160] Garner filed for divorce in May 2003, citing irreconcilable differences, and divorce papers were signed in March 2004.[161][162] She dated herAlias co-starMichael Vartan from August 2003 to mid-2004.[163][164]
Garner began datingBen Affleck in August 2004,[165] having established a friendship on the sets ofPearl Harbor (2001) andDaredevil (2003).[166] They married on June 29, 2005, in a privateTurks and Caicos ceremony.[167]
Former co-star and friendVictor Garber, who officiated the ceremony, and Garber's partner (and later husband), Rainer Andreesen, were the only guests.[168] Garner and Affleck have three children together:Violet Anne Affleck, Fin Affleck,[169] and Samuel Garner Affleck.[170] The couple announced their intention to divorce in June 2015,[171] and jointly filed legal documents in April 2017, seeking joint physical and legal custody of their children.[172] The divorce was finalized in October 2018.[173][174]
Garner supported Affleck's struggles with alcoholism during and after their marriage and has creditedAl-Anon with changing "the dance" of their relationship.[175] She previously used the surnames Foley and Affleck during her marriages to both men respectively.[176][177]
Garner dated businessmanJohn C. Miller from mid-2018 to early 2020.[178][179][180] After separating for a year, Garner and Miller's relationship resumed in 2021.[181][182]
Although Garner stopped attending church regularly after moving to Los Angeles,[183] her three children were baptized as members of the United Methodist Church in her hometown of Charleston, West Virginia.[11] In 2015, she and her family began attending weekly Methodist church services in Los Angeles.[11]
Garner was stalked by Steven Burky from 2002 to 2003, and again from 2008 to 2009. Garner, her then-husband Affleck, and their daughter Violet obtained a restraining order in 2008.[184] Burky was arrested in December 2009 outside Violet's preschool.[185] He was charged with two counts of stalking, to which he pleadednot guilty by reason of insanity. In March 2010, he was adjudicated insane, sent to California's state mental hospital, and ordered to stay away from the Garner-Affleck family for 10 years if released.[186]
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