Jennifer Garner Surprising Facts: Career, Life Details

In the early ‘90s, Jennifer Garner’s career was just getting started when she began snagging roles in some of the most popular television series like Law & Order and Significant Others. Soon after, she became an in-demand actress thanks to her role in the science fiction series Alias which began airing in 2001. Longtime fans of the Golden Globe winner may be shocked to find out some surprising facts about her.

Jennifer starred in Alias for five seasons until the show came to an end in 2006. In between her television takeover, the Texas native appeared in 2002’s Catch Me If You Can and costarred in 2003’s Daredevil with now-ex-husband Ben Affleck. In 2004, Jennifer landed the role in which she became best known, portraying Jenna Rink in the romantic comedy 13 Going on 30 alongside Mark Ruffalo.

The pair reunited in the 2022 science fiction film The Adam Project, a reunion that fans of the cult classic rom-com were ecstatic to see. Working together again was a fun blast from the past for both Jennifer and Mark.

“I know he was excited to be with me and I was too. We had a great time,” she said about their reunion during a March 2022 interview with People.

Aside from her marvelous acting career, Jennifer is a proud mom of three kids, whom she shares with Ben. The former couple got married in 2005 and announced their split 10 years later. Their divorce was finalized in 2018.

They became parents for the first time in 2005 when they welcomed their eldest daughter, Violet Anne Affleck. Their second daughter, Seraphina Rose Elizabeth Affleck, was born in 2009. Their son, Samuel Affleck, arrived in 2012. Though they are no longer together and have moved on with other partners, Jennifer and Ben prioritize coparenting their children.

“The main thing is these kids — and we’re completely in line with what we hope for them,” the Elektra star told Vanity Fair in February 2016. “Sure, I lost the dream of dancing with my husband at my daughter’s wedding. But you should see their faces when he walks through the door. And if you see your kids love someone so purely and wholly, then you’re going to be friends with that person.”

Keep scrolling to find out five surprising facts about Jennifer.

Ballet Was Jennifer’s First Love

Before she shot to fame as a dynamic actress, Jennifer enrolled in dance classes. She famously displayed her dance moves in 13 Going on 30 during the iconic “Thriller” dance scene. She even shows off her ballet skills on Instagram from time to time, however, her love for dancing did not rub off on her children.

“I danced six hours a day,” she told Vanity Fair. “My cross to bear is that my children have no interest in ballet. I think they could smell how much I wanted to put their hair in a bun.”

She Confessed to Having a Major ‘Mom Fail’

In March 2022, Jennifer appeared on The Late Late Show With James Corden alongside Greg Kinnear. Jennifer and Greg’s kids attend the same school. She admitted to making a hilarious “mom fail,” accidentally sending a cheeky email to all of the parents at the school.

“I had a mom fail … we have kids who do the same activity, and I emailed the coach one weekend kind of being funny about my kid saying, ‘Well this one seems to be getting a little whomped this weekend, what does that mean for tomorrow morning?’” she explained. “I thought I was being funny, I have wonderful kids, they do really well, they’re great — and it was the first time in my life that I replied all.”

Luckily, Greg admitted that he and all of the other parents had already forgotten all about the email!

She Was a Babysitter for the Stars

Before finding her stride in Hollywood on the series Alias, Jennifer held several jobs to make ends meet. She even babysat Stephen Colbert‘s daughter, Madeline Colbert. The esteemed actress first met the comedian when they both appeared on a 1996 episode of Spin City.

Jennifer stooped by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in May 2017 to talk about her experience working for the Colbert family. Stephen admitted that he and his wife, Evelyn McGee-Colbert, weren’t sure if Jennifer was going to make it in Hollywood initially but was glad they were wrong.

“We said, ‘That poor thing,’ because you were so nice,” he said. “We thought, ‘Los Angeles will devour her.'”

Jennifer Is Close Friends With Bradley Cooper

Jennifer has several A-list friends, but one of her first friends in Hollywood was Bradley Cooper. In November 2018, she honored The Hangover actor at the American Cinematheque Awards with a touching speech about how their friendship started when she offered to cook dinner for him. Their bond has lasted for more than two decades.

“There is something about people who are the same in success and failure that makes us love them. … I know the heart and stomach of Bradley Cooper,” she said. “Bradley, what’s happening to you now is a pure joy to those who know you, especially to those of us who’ve known you from the start. It turns out you weren’t just handsome all along. You were also a wonder, and you are welcome at my table anytime.”

She’s a Huge Fan of Donny Osmond

For Jennifer’s 50th birthday in April 2022, she got the surprise of a lifetime. Her childhood crush, Donny Osmond, showed up to serenade her while she was out to dinner with her friends. The sweet exchange was caught on video.

“My first (pre)birthday surprise was a doozy — the one and only, legend in his own time, object of my childhood adoration and devotion — @donnyosmond showed up to knock my purple socks off,” she captioned the Instagram post. “He took an hour and a half of his day to sit with me, sing my favorites and to give me a master class on how to be a class act. Thank you, Donny.”