Ignore the recent tabloid buzz about Jennifer Garner—she’s far more than just a footnote in Ben Affleck’s love life. She’s one of Hollywood’s most beloved actresses. To celebrate her birthday (she’s an Aries!), here’s a look back at her most iconic roles, from 13 Going on 30 to Party Down:
Alias (2001–2006)
This spy thriller turned Garner into a star. As Sydney Bristow, a CIA operative leading a double life, she earned four Emmy nominations. (Bonus: The show inspired one of 30 Rock’s best lines: “Like Sydney Bristow on Alias, I’ll use my sexuality as a weapon. To the wig shop!”)
13 Going on 30 (2004)
Is there a more perfect 2000s rom-com? Garner shines as Jenna Rink, a teen who magically wakes up as a 30-year-old magazine editor. Her heartfelt performance turns what could’ve been a fluffy role into something genuinely moving—and endlessly rewatchable.
Juno (2007)
No character has ever made me root for a divorce harder than Garner’s Vanessa Loring. All she wants is a baby, but her man-child husband (Jason Bateman) can’t stop flirting with their teenage surrogate. Garner’s portrayal of quiet longing is devastating—and her eventual happy ending is pure joy.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009)
Chemistry with Matthew McConaughey? Easy. But Garner takes it to another level in this rom-com about a womanizer reconnecting with his one true love. That snowy kiss at the end? Chills.
Valentine’s Day (2010)
The ultimate star-studded rom-com, and Garner still steals the show as Julia, a sweet-natured teacher navigating love amid an ensemble that includes Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, and Taylor Swift.
Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Garner’s role as Dr. Eve Saks is understated but powerful—and we owe it to McConaughey, who talked her out of quitting after a grueling day on set (she’d just given birth to her son Samuel).
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)
Garner is effortlessly charming as an L.A. mom weathering chaos in this family comedy. Maybe it’s because she’s a real-life mom of three that she makes it look so natural.
Love, Simon (2018)
Who better to play the world’s most supportive mom than Garner? Her real-life experience as a parent to a transgender child adds depth to this heartfelt teen drama.
Camping (2018)
This short-lived Lena Dunham series flew under the radar, but Garner’s performance as a high-strung “Instagram celebrity” is reason enough to revisit it.
Party Down (2023–)
Garner’s arrival as movie producer Evie Adler in Season 3 of this cult-favorite comedy was a welcome surprise. As the creators said, she brought the exact “effervescent, warm, funny” energy the role needed.
Happy birthday, Jen! Here’s to many more unforgettable roles.”Son, we wanted to cast someone like Jennifer Garner,” Adam Scott told Yahoo at the time. “We kept saying it, never actually thinking we’d get Jennifer Garner herself.”