Jennifer Garner
Biography
Jennifer Anne Garner, born April 17, 1972, in Houston, Texas, is an American actress. She was raised in Charleston, West Virginia, and pursued theater studies at Denison University. Garner began her professional acting career as an understudy with the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City. She made her screen debut in 1995 with the television adaptation of Danielle Steel’s novel Zoya. Her early work included guest appearances on television and supporting roles in film, notably a featured part on the teen drama series Time of Your Life (1999–2000) and a supporting role in the war drama Pearl Harbor (2001).
Career overview
Garner’s foundation in performance was built through formal study and stage work. After completing a theater program at Denison University, she moved to New York City where she joined the Roundabout Theatre Company as an understudy, gaining experience in a professional repertory environment. She entered television in 1995 with the adaptation of Danielle Steel’s novel Zoya, marking her screen debut. Over the next several years Garner accumulated guest appearances on various series and took supporting parts in films, including a featured role on the teen drama Time of Your Life during its 1999–2000 run and a supporting appearance in the 2001 war drama Pearl Harbor. Garner’s most prominent breakthrough arrived when she was cast as CIA officer Sydney Bristow in the ABC spy‑action thriller, a performance that brought her widespread recognition and solidified her status as a leading television actress. By the time of this role, her credited work on TMDB listed 122 acting credits, reflecting a steadily expanding body of work across both television and film. Her continued presence in both mediums has kept her among the most recognizable figures in contemporary American entertainment.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Jennifer Garner.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Five Star Weekend (2026) as Hollis Shaw
- The Five Star Weekend (2026) Executive Producer
- On Brand with Jimmy Fallon (2025) as Self
- Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) as Elektra
- Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) as Self - Elektra
- The Last Thing He Told Me (2023) as Hannah Hall
- The Last Thing He Told Me (2023) Executive Producer
- Family Switch (2023) as Jess Walker
- Family Switch (2023) Producer
- Angel City (2023) as Self
- Can't Go Home (2023) as K.D Williams
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022) as Self - Guest
- The Adam Project (2022) as Ellie Reed
- Be My Guest with Ina Garten (2022) as Self - Guest
- YES DAY (2021) as Allison Torres
- YES DAY (2021) Producer
- Upload (2020) as Officer Jennifer Garner (voice)
- Home Movie: The Princess Bride (2020) as Princess Buttercup / Ancient Booer
- The Happy Days of Garry Marshall (2020) as Self
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self - Guest
- Wonder Park (2019) as June's Mom (voice)
- Love, Simon (2018) as Emily
- Peppermint (2018) as Riley North
- Llama Llama (2018) as Mama Llama (voice)
- Camping (2018) as Kathryn
- What the Fit (2018) as Self
- Wakefield (2017) as Diana Wakefield
- The Tribes of Palos Verdes (2017) as Sandy
- A Happening of Monumental Proportions (2017) as Nadine
- Miracles from Heaven (2016) as Christy Beam
- Ask the Storybots (2016)
- Mother's Day (2016) as Lt. Dana Barton
- Nine Lives (2016) as Lara Brand
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015) as Self - Guest
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self - Guest
- Hot Ones (2015) as Self
- Danny Collins (2015) as Samantha Leigh Donnelly
- A Path Appears (2015) as Self
- A Path Appears (2015) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014) as Self
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors (2014) as Self
- Men, Women & Children (2014) as Patricia Beltmeyer
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014) as Kelly Cooper
- Draft Day (2014) as Ali Parker
- Dallas Buyers Club (2013) as Eve
- The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012) as Cindy Green
- Butter (2012) as Laura Pickler
- Butter (2012) Producer
- Serena (2012) as Serena
- Arthur (2011) as Susan Johnson
- Conan (2010) as Self - Guest
- Valentine's Day (2010) as Julia Fitzpatrick
- This Side of the Truth, A Truly 'Honest' Making of The Invention of Lying (2010) as Self
- The Jay Leno Show (2009) as Self
- Party Down (2009) as Evie
- The Invention of Lying (2009) as Anna McDoogles
- Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009) as Jenny Perotti
- Cyrano de Bergerac (2008) as Roxane
- Cyrano de Bergerac (2008) as Roxanne
- The Graham Norton Show (2007) as Self
- The Kingdom (2007) as Janet Mayes
- Juno (2007) as Vanessa Loring
- Rachael Ray (2006)
- Catch and Release (2006) as Gray Wheeler
- Elektra (2005) as Elektra
- On Air with Ryan Seacrest (2004) as Self
- 13 Going on 30 (2004) as Jenna Rink
- CMT Insider (2004) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self - Guest
- Daredevil (2003) as Elektra Natchios
- ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration (2003) as Self - Sydney Bristow
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special (2003) as Self
- Catch Me If You Can (2002) as Cheryl Ann
- Icons (2002)
- The Osbournes (2002) as Self
- Pearl Harbor (2001) as Sandra
- Alias (2001) as Sydney Bristow
- Alias (2001) Director
- Dinner for Five (2001)
- Rennie's Landing (2001) as Kiley
- Beyond the Movie: Pearl Harbor (2001) as Sandra
- Dude, Where's My Car? (2000) as Wanda
- The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999) as Self - Guest
- Time of Your Life (1999) as Romy Sullivan
- Aftershock: Earthquake in New York (1999) as Diane Agostini
- Felicity (1998) as Hannah Bibb
- Fantasy Island (1998)
- Significant Others (1998) as Nell
- The View (1997) as Self
- Leute heute (1997) as Self
- Taff (1997) as self
- Deconstructing Harry (1997) as Woman in Elevator
- Danielle Steel's Zoya (1997) as Sasha
- Washington Square (1997) as Marian Almond
- Mr. Magoo (1997) as Stacey Sampanahoditra
- Rose Hill (1997) as Mary Rose Clayborne / Victoria Elliot at 17
- 1999 (1997) as Annabel
- The Daily Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- Spin City (1996) as Becky
- The Pretender (1996) as Billie H. Vaughn / Dupree
- Swift Justice (1996) as Allison
- Dead Man's Walk (1996) as Clara Forsythe
- Harvest of Fire (1996) as Sarah Troyer
- Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- Law & Order (1990) as Jaime
- The Simpsons (1989) as Jennifer Garner (voice)
- America's Funniest Home Videos (1989)
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark (1988) as Self - Guest
- Kids' Choice Awards (1987) as Self - Presenter
- Wetten, dass..? (1981) as Self
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- Saturday Night Live (1975) as Self - Host
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Today (1952) as Self
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Mary Rose
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
- Fantasy Camp
- One Attempt Remaining
- One Attempt Remaining Producer
- 13 Going on 30 Executive Producer
- Zygote as Parisa
- Jackpot
- Mrs. Claus
- Mrs. Claus Producer
- Fruitcake