Jennifer Garner recently shared a touching story about her early career. She recalled earning just $150 a week as a Broadway understudy and even living on a friend’s kitchen floor, but emphasized that she continues to find work and success even now in her fifties.
The acclaimed 53-year-old actress became emotional remembering the first time she saw herself in a movie, calling it a ‘magical’ experience. She expressed disbelief that she’s still acting after 30 years.
She spoke highly of her close friend and co-star, Reese Witherspoon, sharing how the award-winning actress had supported her through tough moments, helped her career, and offered helpful advice about raising children.
At 23, Jennifer moved to New York City and quickly began her Broadway career. She started as an understudy in “A Month in the Country,” a play featuring renowned actors Helen Mirren and F. Murray Abraham.
She explained that even though she only made $150 a week, she was amazed to get the role. She still feels surprised by her success, saying, ‘The shock of it has always been greater than what I imagined.’
Jennifer recently shared on Josh Smith’s podcast that she was incredibly surprised to be a Broadway understudy. She felt that even just landing that role would have been a significant achievement in itself.
It was amazing to watch Helen Mirren perform nightly, and then being on set myself felt surreal – I couldn’t believe I was actually there.
I’ve felt this all along. Honestly, the reality has always exceeded my expectations… it’s been more amazing than I ever imagined.
She shared a recent memory with her friend, recalling how they fondly remembered seeing Jennifer in her first movie, adding that just thinking about it brought tears to her eyes.
Oh my gosh, can you believe her first movie role was in ‘Washington Square’ back in ’97? And it wasn’t just any movie – she was acting alongside absolute LEGENDS! I mean, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judy Ivey, Albert Finney, and Maggie Smith! It was incredible, seeing her hold her own with those giants of film and theatre. I’ve watched that movie a million times just to see her in it!
Jennifer remembered working on a Henry James adaptation where she had a minor part. She admitted she was quite inexperienced, but her first time doing ADR – additional dialogue recording – turned into a learning experience. The team showed her how it was done.
My friend Claudia was visiting me. She and her boyfriend were living on a boat on the Thames in London, and I was crashing on the kitchen floor at the time. That’s when we went to see this.
It was surreal! I remember finishing a quick voiceover session – ADR, they call it – with Albert Finney and Maggie Smith, and honestly, we were like kids! We practically ran down Broadway, yelling and jumping for joy. It was one of those moments you just don’t forget – pure, unadulterated excitement.
She became emotional remembering the special moment, explaining, ‘Just thinking about it makes me tear up. We were completely shocked and amazed, wondering how we ended up experiencing such a thing. We celebrated with everything we had, and we were just talking last night about how truly magical that moment was for both of us.’
In 2024, expressed her sadness after the passing of her Washington Square co-star, Maggie, who died at 89. She remembered Maggie as ‘the best person who welcomed me into the world of film’.
She posted a touching message on Instagram, recalling how she worked with Maggie Smith nearly thirty years ago on her very first film, Washington Square.
Maggie was a fantastic person to start my career in the film industry. She was incredibly generous, kind, and had a great sense of humor!
I’ll always remember taking Maggie to her first baseball game. We enjoyed a beer and rooted for our team, and even though the photos are gone, the memory is still special. Rest in peace, Maggie.
In the early 2000s, Jennifer Garner’s career began to flourish with appearances in films like Pearl Harbor and Catch Me If You Can. She also gained widespread recognition and a Golden Globe award for her role as Sydney Bristow in the TV series, Alias.
Despite all her achievements, she always maintained a sense of humility, never assuming anything would come easy or expecting success – not even with her breakout role in the popular 2004 romantic comedy, 13 Going On 30.
Looking back on the film, she confessed she was hesitant to watch it again, as it meant so much to her and was a deeply personal project.
Looking back at making ’13 Going On 30,’ it was just a really fun experience. We had no idea if the movie would be successful, but the cast is still very close, which is amazing.
If seeing it meant a lot to you, then creating it meant everything to me. Honestly, filming scenes with Judy running around in heels and a nightgown on the street…
It’s been ages since I watched that movie, and I’m almost afraid to revisit it. I have vivid memories of goofing around with the young actresses, dancing on the bed, and just feeling the fun and energy of being on set.
Even after working in the entertainment industry for over thirty years, Jennifer was surprised and grateful to still be a leading actress in her fifties, recently starring in the drama series, The Last Thing He Told Me.
She enthusiastically praised her close friend Reese Witherspoon, explaining that her continued success in her career was largely due to the Legally Blonde actress, stating, ‘I truly owe everything to Reese.’
These two stars have become close friends over the years. They’ve worked on many projects together and often publicly acknowledge and celebrate each other, especially on social media with birthday wishes and supportive posts.
Jennifer confessed she was surprised to still be working, especially at her age. She never imagined, when she was 30, that she’d be leading a show and playing the hero of her own story at almost 54.
I have friends who entered the industry decades before me, and things have changed a lot since their time. It’s great to see them getting recognized again now.
Honestly, Reese Witherspoon completely changed everything for me. She saw what I was trying to do and just wouldn’t let it die! She knew there was an audience for stories about women, and she was right – we need to hear women’s voices, and she fought to make sure we did. I owe her everything.
She launched Hello Sunshine with a focus on amplifying women’s voices. The company centers stories around female protagonists and ensures that books are both written by and adapted by women. It’s something that has been incredibly beneficial for me and many others in the industry.
Jennifer has frequently expressed her admiration for Reese, even sharing that Reese motivated her to become a producer. Jennifer received her first executive producer credit on ‘The Last Thing He Told Me,’ a project she worked on with her close friend.
In a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Juno actor admitted that Reese Witherspoon was a major force behind their involvement, saying she really encouraged them to do it.
A few years ago, she pointed out that Hollywood rarely considers stories centered around 50-year-old women. She explained that no one is actively wondering what movies or shows they can make in Los Angeles that would feature a woman of that age.
She told me, “You need to make things yourself.” Everyone in town owes Reese a thank you; she’s done so much for women here.
During a 2023 panel at the Hello Sunshine Shine On event, she expressed gratitude to Reese for creating an environment where she and other actresses could openly share their thoughts about the industry without worrying about repercussions.
The meetings took place at Reese’s home. It was the first time I’d been in a room with so many actresses outside of an awards show, where we usually just quickly greet each other while wearing fancy gowns.
She explained that they had previously been isolated and unable to make progress. However, Hello Sunshine was the turning point, the place where things began to change and prevent that isolation from continuing. She firmly believes this is simply the truth.
Jennifer recently talked about the difficulties of raising her three children – Violet, 20, Fin, 17, and Samuel, 13 – with her ex-husband, Ben Affleck. She also shared how much she appreciates Reese Witherspoon’s support over the years.
She shared that Joaquin Phoenix has been a constant support in her life, through good times and bad. The Oscar-winning actor, who is a parent to Ava, 26, Deacon, 22, and Tennessee, 13, has also offered her really helpful advice about raising children.
We’ve been friends for years. Although Reese is younger than me, she often acts like an older sister, and I really appreciate that dynamic.
As a middle child myself, I’ve always been a bit of a people-pleaser! Honestly, if someone – especially a woman – tells me what to do, my immediate reaction is usually, ‘Absolutely, consider it done!’ It’s just how I’m wired – I tend to be very agreeable and eager to help.
Years ago, when my first child was born and we lived in Los Angeles, someone told me I needed to start looking at preschools right away. She specifically recommended a few schools and explained that to get into one particular school, both my child and I – and my husband, Ben – needed to attend a specific class.
I simply agreed and followed her advice. We went to the preschool and signed up for the parenting class – just Ben and me. It was a really positive experience, and she always has a wonderful way with me.
Jennifer shared that Reese not only offered excellent advice and support, but also helped her through difficult moments. She specifically remembered a challenging time when Reese went above and beyond to cheer her up, even while recovering from a broken foot.
She explained that there were times she relied on this person, recalling a difficult period when she was having a bad day. This person was there for her, and they both took a workout class with Simone de La Rue.
I was trying to lift my spirits with a dance cardio workout, and Reese decided to join in. We really pushed ourselves, and unfortunately, Reese ended up breaking her foot. But we didn’t stop – she actually kept dancing even after she was injured!
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2026-02-25 16:35