Jennifer Anne Garner (born April 17, 1972) is an American actress. She studied theater at Denison University and began acting as an understudy for the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City. She had a starring role on the Fox teen drama series Time of Your Life (1999–2000), and supporting roles in the war drama film Pearl Harbor (2001) and the comedy-drama film Catch Me If You Can (2002).
Her breakthrough came with playing Sydney Bristow in the ABC action thriller series Alias (2001–2006), which earned her a Golden Globe, and four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, among other honors. Garner received further recognition for her starring roles in the romantic comedies 13 Going on 30 (2004), Juno (2007), Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009) and Valentine's Day (2010), and for playing Elektra in the superhero films Daredevil (2003) and Elektra (2005).
She has since starred in the biographical drama Dallas Buyers Club (2013); the family comedies Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014), Love, Simon (2018), and Yes Day (2021); the action films Peppermint (2018) and The Adam Project (2022); and the Apple TV+ drama series The Last Thing He Told Me (2023).
Garner works as an activist for early childhood education and is a board member of Save the Children USA. She is the co-founder and chief brand officer of the organic baby food company Once Upon a Farm. She is also an advocate for anti-paparazzi campaigns among children of celebrities.