Jennifer Anne Garner (born April 17, 1972) is an American actress. Born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Charleston, West Virginia, Garner studied theater at Denison University and began acting as an understudy for the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City. She made her screen debut in the television adaptation of Danielle Steel's romance novel Zoya in 1995. She had guest television appearances and supporting film roles, as well as a featured role on the teen drama television series Time of Your Life (1999–2000) and a supporting role in the war drama Pearl Harbor (2001).
Garner gained recognition for her leading performance as CIA officer Sydney Bristow in the ABC spy-action thriller television series Alias (2001–2006). For her work on the series, she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama, in addition to four consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She received additional praise for her performance in the romantic comedy 13 Going on 30 (2004), and went on to portray Elektra in the superhero films Daredevil (2003) and Elektra (2005). She continued to achieve commercial success with performances in the comedy-drama Juno (2007), and the romantic comedies Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009) and Valentine's Day (2010).
Garner had starring film roles in the fantasy-comedy The Invention of Lying (2009), the fantasy drama The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012), and the biographic drama Dallas Buyers Club (2013), the latter of which earned her a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. She went on to star in the family comedy Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014), the drama Miracles from Heaven (2016), the romantic comedy-drama Love, Simon (2018), the HBO comedy series Camping (2018), the action thriller Peppermint (2018) and action-comedy The Adam Project (2022). Garner has also produced and starred in the comedy Butter (2011) and the family adventure Yes Day (2021).
Garner works as an activist for early childhood education and is a board member of Save the Children USA. She is the co-founder and chief brand officer of the organic baby food company Once Upon a Farm. She is also an advocate for anti-paparazzi campaigns among children of celebrities.
Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Deadpool & Wolverine
Self - Elektra
2024
Deadpool & Wolverine
Elektra
2024
Family Switch
Jess Walker
2023
The Adam Project
Ellie Reed
2022
YES DAY
Allison Torres
2021
The Happy Days of Garry Marshall
Self
2020
Wonder Park
June's Mom (voice)
2019
Peppermint
Riley North
2018
Love, Simon
Emily Spier
2018
The Tribes of Palos Verdes
Sandy
2017
Wakefield
Diana Wakefield
2017
A Happening of Monumental Proportions
Nadine
2017
Nine Lives
Lara Brand
2016
Mother's Day
Lt. Dana Barton
2016
Miracles from Heaven
Christy Beam
2016
Danny Collins
Samantha Leigh Donnelly
2015
A Path Appears
Self
2015
Men, Women & Children
Patricia Beltmeyer
2014
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Kelly Cooper
2014
Draft Day
Ali Parker
2014
Dallas Buyers Club
Eve
2013
Butter
Laura Pickler
2012
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
Cindy Green
2012
Serena
Serena
2012
Arthur
Susan Johnson
2011
Valentine's Day
Julia Fitzpatrick
2010
This Side of the Truth, A Truly 'Honest' Making of The Invention of Lying
Self
2010
The Invention of Lying
Anna McDoogles
2009
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Jenny Perotti
2009
Cyrano de Bergerac
Roxane
2008
Juno
Vanessa Loring
2007
The Kingdom
Janet Mayes
2007
Catch and Release
Gray Wheeler
2006
Elektra
Elektra Natchios / Elektra
2005
13 Going on 30
Jenna Rink
2004
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
Self
2003
Beyond Hell's Kitchen: Making 'Daredevil'
2003
Daredevil
Elektra Natchios
2003
Catch Me If You Can
Cheryl Ann
2002
The Osbournes
(1 episode)
2002
Dinner for Five
(1 episode)
2001
Rennie's Landing
Kiley
2001
Pearl Harbor
Sandra
2001
Dude, Where's My Car?
Wanda
2000
Fantasy Island
(1 episode)
1998
Mr. Magoo
Stacey Sampanahoditra
1997
Deconstructing Harry
Woman in Elevator
1997
Washington Square
Marian Almond
1997
1999
Annabel
1997
Rose Hill
Mary Rose Clayborne / Victoria Elliot at 17
1997
Harvest of Fire
Sarah Troyer
1996
Fruitcake
Mrs. Claus
Danielle Steel's Zoya
Sasha
1997
Yes Day 2
Allison Torres
Jackpot
Zygote
Parisa
Can't Go Home
K.D Williams · (1 episode)
2023
Angel City
Self · (3 episodes)
2023
The Last Thing He Told Me
Hannah Hall · (7 episodes)
2023
Be My Guest with Ina Garten
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2022
Home Movie: The Princess Bride
Princess Buttercup / Ancient Booer · (1 episode)
2020
Upload
Officer Jennifer Garner (voice) · (1 episode)
2020
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self · (3 episodes)
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
(1 episode)
2019
Camping
Kathryn · (8 episodes)
2018
What the Fit
Self · (1 episode)
2018
Llama Llama
Mama Llama (voice) · (48 episodes)
2018
Ask the Storybots
(1 episode)
2016
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (1 episode)
2015
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2015
Hot Ones
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Variety Studio: Actors on Actors
Self · (1 episode)
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (2 episodes)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
(2 episodes)
2014
Conan
Self · (1 episode)
2010
The Jay Leno Show
Self · (1 episode)
2009
Party Down
Evie · (6 episodes)
2009
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (1 episode)
2007
Rachael Ray
(1 episode)
2006
CMT Insider
Self · (1 episode)
2004
On Air with Ryan Seacrest
Self · (1 episode)
2004
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (2 episodes)
2003
Icons
(1 episode)
2002
Alias
Sydney Bristow · (105 episodes)
2001
Aftershock: Earthquake in New York
Diane Agostini · (2 episodes)
1999
Time of Your Life
Romy Sullivan · (19 episodes)
1999
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1999
Felicity
Hannah Bibb · (3 episodes)
1998
Significant Others
Nell · (6 episodes)
1998
The View
Self · (2 episodes)
1997
Leute heute
Self · (1 episode)
1997
Taff
self · (1 episode)
1997
The Pretender
Billie H. Vaughn / Dupree · (1 episode)
1996
Spin City
Becky · (1 episode)
1996
The Daily Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996
Dead Man's Walk
Clara Forsythe · (3 episodes)
1996
Swift Justice
Allison · (1 episode)
1996
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1993
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(3 episodes)
1992
Law & Order
Jaime · (1 episode)
1990
The Simpsons
Jennifer Garner (voice) · (1 episode)
1989
America's Funniest Home Videos
(1 episode)
1989
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · (4 episodes)
1988
Kids' Choice Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1987
Entertainment Tonight
Self · (8 episodes)
1981
Wetten, dass..?
Self · (1 episode)
1981
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1975
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1975
The Oscars
Self · (3 episodes)
1953
Today
Self · (2 episodes)
1952
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Mary Rose · (1 episode)
1951
The Five-Star Weekend
Hollis Shaw · (0 episode)