Jennifer Anne Garner, born April 17, 1972, in Houston, Texas, is an American actress known primarily for her role as CIA agent Sydney Bristow in the ABC television series *Alias* (2001–2006), which earned her a Golden Globe Award and four Primetime Emmy nominations. Raised in Charleston, West Virginia, she studied theater at Denison University before moving to New York City to work as an understudy in theater productions and later to Los Angeles to pursue television roles[1][2][3].
Garner’s early career included supporting roles in films such as *Pearl Harbor* (2001) and *Catch Me If You Can* (2002). She gained wider recognition through romantic comedies like *13 Going on 30* (2004), *Juno* (2007), *Ghosts of Girlfriends Past* (2009), and *Valentine’s Day* (2010). She also played Elektra in superhero films. Throughout the 2010s, Garner appeared in critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies including *Dallas Buyers Club* (2013), *Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day* (2014), *Love, Simon* (2018), and *Peppermint* (2018)[1][3].
In recent years, she starred in family-friendly films such as *Yes Day* (2021) and the Apple TV+ drama series *The Last Thing He Told Me* (2023), maintaining her relevance in both film and television[1].
Beyond acting, Garner is an advocate for early childhood education and serves on the board of Save the Children USA. She co-founded and acts as chief brand officer for Once Upon a Farm, an organic baby food company. She is also active in campaigns against paparazzi intrusion into the lives of celebrity children[1][4].
Garner was married to actor Ben Affleck until their divorce in 2018. She continues to balance her career with philanthropic work and family life[2][3].