Acting career Jennifer Garner

1 acting career

1.1 1994–2001: career beginnings , alias
1.2 2002–2011: transition film
1.3 2012–present

acting career
1994–2001: career beginnings , alias

as college student, garner did summer stock theater. in addition performing, garner helped sell tickets, build sets, , clean venues. worked @ timber lake playhouse in mount carroll, illinois in 1992, barn theatre in augusta, michigan in 1993, , georgia shakespeare festival in atlanta, georgia in 1994. garner moved new york city in 1995. during first year in city, garner earned $150 per week understudy roundabout theatre company production of month in country, starring helen mirren , f. murray abraham, , made first on-screen appearance melissa gilbert s daughter in romance miniseries zoya. in 1996 played amish woman in television movie harvest of fire , flirtatious shopkeeper in western miniseries dead man s walk. appeared in independent short film in harm s way , made one-off appearances in legal dramas swift justice , law & order. met stephen colbert while filming episode of spin city , became occasional babysitter children. garner supplemented income working hostess @ isabella s restaurant on upper east side.

after moving los angeles in 1997, garner won first leading role in television movie rose hill , made first feature film appearance in period drama washington square. appeared in comedy movie mr. magoo, independent drama 1999 , woody allen s deconstructing harry; of performance cut allen s film. in 1998, garner appeared in episode of fantasy island , cast series regular in fox drama significant others. joyner of new york times praised ability provide leavening ingredient of innocent insight ken tucker of entertainment weekly felt there no center character, played garner. fox cancelled series after airing 3 of 6 filmed episodes. garner s significant role of 1998 in j.j. abrams college drama felicity. during two-episode guest appearance, befriended abrams , met first husband scott foley. in 1999, garner cast series regular in fox drama, time of life, cancelled midway through first season. in 1999, appeared in miniseries aftershock: earthquake in new york , in 2 episodes of action drama pretender. garner played girlfriend of ashton kutcher s character in comedy dude, s car? (2000). in 2001, appeared briefly opposite husband foley in drama stealing time , had small role nurse in war epic pearl harbor.

garner rose fame in 2001 when cast star of abc spy drama alias. show s creator, j.j. abrams, wrote part of sydney bristow garner in mind: thought had in personality funnier , sexier , smarter , more mischievous d seen ... wanted show that. however, had convince wary studio executives garner right role. robert bianco of usa today remarked: ve never noticed her. ll notice ... garner creates 1 of season s strongest new characters — sensitive young woman hides vulnerability behind mean right cross. julie salamon of new york times said brought attractive combination of vulnerability , entrepreneurial self-protectiveness role. alias aired 5 seasons between 2001 , 2006; garner s salary began @ $40,000 per episode , rose $150,000 per episode series end. during show s run, garner won screen actors guild award best actress , golden globe award best actress (with further 3 globe nominations), , received 4 nominations emmy award best actress.

2002–2011: transition film

while alias airing, garner continued work in film intermittently. had other-worldly experience when steven spielberg called offer role high-class call girl in catch me if can (2002). after seeing in alias, speilberg felt sure next superstar . filmed scene opposite leonardo dicaprio during one-day shoot. garner s first co-starring film role in action movie daredevil (2003), in played elektra ben affleck s daredevil. physicality required role garner had discovered aptitude while working on alias. elvis mitchell of new york times said realizes elektra more through movement way of lumpy, obvious lines. hasn t mastered combat skill of tossing off bad material. while daredevil received mixed reviews, box office success. in 2003, garner voiced herself in episode of simpsons.

garner s first leading film role, in romantic comedy 13 going on 30 (2004), praised. played teenager finds herself trapped in body of 30-year-old. garner chose gary winick direct film , continued other projects until death in 2011. manohla dargis of los angeles times found startling : whenever s on screen don t want anywhere else. owen gleiberman of entertainment weekly praised utterly beguiling performance: can pinpoint moment in when garner becomes star. ann hornaday of washington post remarked: garner cut out america s next sweetheart; has same magic mix of allure , accessibility job calls for. 13 going on 30 moderate commercial success. garner reprised character of elektra in 2005 daredevil spin-off elektra; box office , critical failure. claudia puig of usa today concluded garner far more appealing when s playing charming , adorable, did winningly in 13 going on 30. garner next starred opposite timothy olyphant in romantic drama catch , release. although filmed in 2005 in between seasons of alias, not released until 2007 , failed recoup production budget. peter travers of rolling stone praised garner s ability blend charm , gravity peter hartlaub of san francisco chronicle felt that, while natural beauty , likability still assets, [she] seems challenged should easy role.

after one-year break following conclusion of alias, wedding affleck, , birth of first child, garner returned work in 2007. supporting role in juno woman desperate adopt child described kyle buchanan of new york magazine turning point in career: came movie steely figure, , left mother d give own child ... writer diablo cody , director jason reitman expertly deploy garner s innate humanity trump card. lisa schwarzbaum of entertainment weekly said had never been lovelier or more affecting. played fbi investigator in action thriller kingdom (2007). nursing baby during filming in arizona , hospitalized on 2 occasions heatstroke. in late 2007 , 2008 garner played roxanne kevin kline s cyrano de bergerac @ richard rodgers theatre on broadway. in preparation role, garner worked vocal , movement coaches , took french lessons. ben brantley of new york times described performance captivating : ms. garner, pleased report, makes roxane girl worth pining on ... [she] speaks anthony burgess’s peppery rhymed translation unaffected sprightliness. if she’s tad stilted in big tragic finale, comic timing impeccable. new yorker s theater critic impressed feistiness , lightness of comic touch . play recorded before live audience , aired on pbs in 2008. in 2007 garner became spokesperson of skin care brand neutrogena.

garner @ press conference invention of lying in 2009

garner co-starred in 2 romantic comedies in 2009. first appeared opposite matthew mcconaughey in ghosts of girlfriends past. while michael phillips of chicago tribune found garner easy , sharp timing , disappointed see love interest, not same rounded character. similarly, manohla dargis of new york times dismayed see actress appear less co-star place holder (you can see words “enter generic female lead” in [the] screenplay). garner s second performance of 2009 opposite comedian ricky gervais in directorial debut invention of lying. gervais keen cast garner – happy , pleasant – against type. david edelstein of new york magazine said proves again (the first time 13 going on 30) dizzying comedienne is. looks if wheels in head not turning falling off , needing screwed on. roger ebert of chicago sun-times praised inspired, seemingly effortless, performance while mick lasalle of san francisco chronicle said has never been better onscreen ... garner gets show comic facility haven t seen before. garner appeared in garry marshall s ensemble romantic comedy valentine s day (2010), sharing scenes ashton kutcher, jessica biel , patrick dempsey. in 2011, had supporting role in arthur villainous arranged bride of russell brand s character.

2012–present

garner @ premiere of butter in 2011

garner played mother first time in 2012, starring opposite joel edgerton in drama odd life of timothy green. received mixed reviews critics , modest commercial success. claudia puig of usa today found convincing warm-hearted, if tense, mom while michael phillips of chicago tribune said brought fervent sincerity , welcome touch of comic eccentricity role. in 2012, garner starred in satirical comedy butter, received mixed feedback critics , poor earnings @ box office. peter debruge of variety praised best bigscreen use of jennifer garner’s comedy gifts since 13 going on 30” while peter travers of rolling stone described best in show  : [she] knows how play comedy of absurd. however, scott bowles of usa today remarked: garner terrific actress, here s asked cackle lines in voice full octave above natural one. in 2012, appeared opposite alfred molina in youtube short serena. in 2012, became spokesperson food company luvo.

garner reunited matthew mcconaughey in 2013 film dallas buyers club, received positive reviews , box office success. peter travers of rolling stone described radiant actress of rare spirit , sensitivity while ann hornaday of washington post remarked: mcconaughey , leto may have showiest roles, garner deserves equal praise sensitive, straightforward performance. betsy sharkey of los angeles times said: garner once again cast quintessentially decent, all-american girl, albeit doctor. question of whether actress has deeper emotional layers bring screen not answered here. david edelstein of new york magazine said: it’s not well-shaped role, i’ve gotten point i’m happy see garner in anything. she’s incapable of phoniness. in 2013, became first celebrity spokesperson of max mara.

in 2014 starred opposite kevin costner in sports drama draft day. mick lasalle of san francisco chronicle remarked: s not of role, s nice in it. perhaps someday give garner chance other nice. garner co-starred steve carell in 2014 disney adaptation of popular children s book alexander , terrible, horrible, no good, bad day. sandie angulo chen of washington post said: garner, has long mastered art of playing harried , overworked moms, pleasantly frazzled. in 2014, garner appeared in men, women & children. christopher orr of atlantic said: garner can snooping mom hell, it’s not much. role caricature of performance in juno, minus ultimate (and essential) redemption. in late 2014, capital 1 signed garner spokeswoman capital 1 venture air miles credit card. in 2015 s danny collins, starring al pacino , annette bening, garner had supporting role wife of bobby cannavale s character. stephanie merry of washington post felt gives movie powerful jolt of emotion.

in 2016, garner appeared in christian drama miracles heaven. ken jaworowski of new york times praised dedicated , heartfelt performance while nigel smith of guardian found subtly wrought work ... tremendously effective in otherwise crassly manipulative film. starred opposite kevin spacey in comedy 9 lives. katie walsh of los angeles times jokingly asked garner send kind of signal if need while peter travers of rolling stone said stranded in nothing role. made uncredited cameo appearance in mother s day.

garner appeared in wakefield, released in may 2017. tribes of palos verdes, filmed in 2016, released in 2017. in 2017 provide voice of mama llama netflix’s new original animated preschool series llama llama while, in 2018, provide voice character in amusement park. in 2017, filmed role in simon vs. homo sapiens agenda. filmed role in friend judy greer s directorial debut happening of monumental proportions, set release in 2017.