Jennifer Garner, who has catapulted into stardom with her lead role on the series Alias, has come a long way from her birthplace of Houston, Texas. Raised in Charleston, West Virginia by her mother Pat, a retired English teacher, and her father, Bill, a former chemical engineer, Jennifer was the middle sibling of three girls. She spent nine years of her adolescence studying ballet and describes her years in dance as ones characterized by determination rather than talent, being driven mostly by a love of the stage.

Jennifer took this determination with her when she enrolled at Denison University as a chemistry major, a decision that was later changed to a drama major when she found that her passions for the stage were stronger than her love of science. New York attracted the young actress after college where she worked as a hostess while pursuing a career in film and television. Her most recent move has been to Los Angeles, a decision that led to a role on the show Felicity, where she met her future husband Scott Foley. The couple divorced in 2004.

She appears on television as Agent Sydney Bristow, who works for the CIA. For her work, Garner has received four consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She has also received four Golden Globe nominations and won once, as well as received two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, and won once.

She has appeared in numerous other television production as well as such films as Elektra, 13 Going on 30, Daredevil, Pearl Harbor and Dude, Where's My Car?. Aside from filming Alias, Jennifer enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, and inspired by her character on the show, kickboxing.



Juno (2007): Reduced Rate (% backend)
The Kingdom (2007): $7,000,000
13 Going on 30 (2004): $3,000,000

Met her first husband Scott Foley on the set of "Felicity" (1998). Was going to go to Yale to study drama but got an acting job in New York City instead. Named one of People Magazine's "Breakthrough Stars of 2001". Named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People [People Magazine - May 2002] Is a trained ballerina who initially left dance for theater acting. Early in the filming of Daredevil (2003), while doing a stunt, she became tangled in the wires that were helping her do a flip and nearly crashed into a wall she was supposed to flip off. Ben Affleck, in his Daredevil costume, rushed up to her, grabbed her and pulled her away from the wall before she hit it. She later commented, "It was like he was Superman.". Following the terrorist attack on the United States on September 11th, 2001, she recorded a promotional video for the Central Intelligence Agency that was available at www.cia.gov/employment. Has two sisters: Melissa (who has a son, Jack) and Susannah (who has a daughter, Emma). Father is a chemical engineer, mother is an English teacher. Ranked #14 in Stuff magazine's "102 Sexiest Women in the World" (2002). One of her call signs on "Alias" (2001) is "Mountaineer". She was raised in West Virginia, and the Mountaineer is the mascot of West Virginia University. Named #2 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005) She announced she is 3 months pregnant with her first baby with fiancé, Ben Affleck. (May 7, 2005) Sister-in-law of Casey Affleck and Summer Phoenix. She married Ben Affleck at the exclusive Parrot Cay resort on the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean. One of her more unique roles is as the face of recruitment for the CIA, hosting a promotional video aimed at young professionals whom the agency would like to interest in a career. Appeared with husband Ben Affleck in two movies, Pearl Harbor (2001) and Daredevil (2003). It would have been three, but Affleck's small scene in Elektra (2005), was cut from the final film. She won the 2006 People's Choice Awards for Best Female TV Star for "Alias" (2001), and Best Female Action Star for Elektra (2005). Was listed as a potential nominee for Worst Actress on the 2006 Razzie Award nominating ballot, for her performance in Elektra (2005). She wasn't nominated. Husband Ben Affleck asked for her hand in marriage with a Neil Lane eternity band with round diamonds. "Alias" (2001) castmate Victor Garber took an Internet guide to officiating at weddings to marry Jennifer and Ben Affleck. Besides Garner and Affleck, Garber was the only other person at the wedding. At their wedding, she wore a dress by Vera Wang and Ben Affleck wore Hugo Boss. Ranked #35 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list. Appears in The Kingdom (2007) with Chris Cooper and Danny Huston. Huston's sister, Anjelica Huston, appeared with Cooper in "Lonesome Dove" (1989). Garner played the younger version of Huston's character in "Dead Man's Walk" (1996). Was named the 2007 West Virginian of the year by the Charleston Gazette. Ranked #20 on Wizard magazine's Sexiest Women of TV (March 2008) for her role on "Alias" (2001). For the 2008 Presidential election, Jennifer registered to vote as 'Jennifer Affleck', not as 'Jennifer Garner'. Did not return to work until six months after giving birth to her daughter Seraphina in order to begin filming Valentine's Day (2010). Returned to work eight months after giving birth to her daughter Violet in order to begin filming The Kingdom (2007).