The 10 Best Jennifer Garner Roles

Jennifer Garner has built a film and television career defined by range, moving from high-intensity espionage to intimate family dramas and sharp, contemporary comedies. Across studio features, prestige indies, and acclaimed series, she has worked with celebrated creators and alongside A-list ensembles, often anchoring projects with precise character work and a clear grasp of story stakes.

This list rounds up 10 standout roles that show how much ground she’s covered on screen. You’ll find lead turns, pivotal supporting parts, and franchise characters—each entry notes the role, the project’s core setup, key collaborators, and notable recognition or impact, so you can quickly place the performance in context.

‘Alias’ (2001–2006) – Sydney Bristow

In the ABC spy drama ‘Alias’, Garner stars as CIA double agent Sydney Bristow, navigating covert operations, layered cover identities, and the show’s long-running Rambaldi mythology. Created by J.J. Abrams, the series blends serialized storytelling with mission-of-the-week structure and features an ensemble that includes Victor Garber, Ron Rifkin, Michael Vartan, and Lena Olin.

Garner’s work on ‘Alias’ earned major awards attention, including a Golden Globe win for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama and multiple Emmy nominations. The series became a calling card for complex female-led action on network television and launched cross-media tie-ins, soundtracks, and recognizable iconography tied to Sydney’s disguises.

’13 Going on 30′ (2004) – Jenna Rink

’13 Going on 30′ is a Columbia Pictures romantic comedy directed by Gary Winick, with a screenplay by Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith. Garner plays magazine editor Jenna Rink, whose wish to skip adolescence lands her in adulthood overnight, opposite co-star Mark Ruffalo and a supporting cast that includes Judy Greer and Andy Serkis.

The film’s New York fashion-magazine setting, memorable set-pieces, and radio-hit soundtrack helped it become a durable cable and streaming favorite. It influenced later body-swap and time-jump comedies and remains one of Garner’s most recognizable star vehicles, frequently cited in retrospectives on twenty-first-century studio rom-coms.

‘Juno’ (2007) – Vanessa Loring

In the Fox Searchlight dramedy ‘Juno’, written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman, Garner portrays Vanessa Loring, a prospective adoptive parent navigating the uncertainties of open adoption. The ensemble includes Elliot Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, and J.K. Simmons.

‘Juno’ received widespread awards recognition, including an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, with nominations across top categories. Garner’s role is central to the film’s adoption storyline, providing the counterpoint to the title character’s perspective and grounding the legal and interpersonal details surrounding the placement.

‘Dallas Buyers Club’ (2013) – Dr. Eve Saks

‘Dallas Buyers Club’ is a biographical drama directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, focusing on an underground network that sourced experimental HIV/AIDS treatments at a time of limited access. Garner plays Dr. Eve Saks, a hospital physician balancing patient advocacy with regulatory constraints, opposite Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto.

The film received multiple Academy Awards, including acting wins for McConaughey and Leto, and was widely discussed for its depiction of treatment access and patient-driven care. Garner’s character operates at the intersection of hospital protocol and buyer’s-club realities, contributing medical context and narrative stakes during clinical and ethical conflicts.

‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ (2023) – Hannah Hall

Based on Laura Dave’s bestseller, ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ is an Apple TV+ limited series created by Laura Dave and Josh Singer. Garner leads as Hannah Hall, a woodturner whose husband disappears, leaving a note that sets off a search involving corporate misconduct, guardianship questions, and a reluctant bond with her stepdaughter, played by Angourie Rice.

The series was produced by Hello Sunshine with Garner also serving as an executive producer, bringing together a creative team with experience in literary adaptations and prestige TV. Filming locations span Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area, and the show’s structure follows the novel’s shifting timelines and clue-driven revelations.

‘The Adam Project’ (2022) – Ellie Reed

‘The Adam Project’ is a Netflix sci-fi adventure directed by Shawn Levy, featuring time-travel mechanics and family-centered stakes. Garner plays Ellie Reed, the mother of the protagonist portrayed by Walker Scobell and Ryan Reynolds across different timelines, with additional cast members including Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldaña.

The production combined practical aerial work with digital effects overseen by multiple VFX houses, and it debuted globally on streaming with a high-visibility campaign tied to family viewing. Garner’s role provides the emotional throughline for the film’s generational themes, connecting domestic scenes to the larger science-fiction plot.

‘Draft Day’ (2014) – Ali Parker

In the NFL-set drama ‘Draft Day’, directed by Ivan Reitman, Garner plays Ali Parker, the Cleveland Browns’ cap specialist and an organizational decision-maker working alongside general manager Sonny Weaver Jr., played by Kevin Costner. The script by Scott Rothman and Rajiv Joseph unfolds over the hours leading up to the league’s draft event.

The film filmed on location with cooperation from the league, using real branding, team facilities, and broadcast elements. Garner’s character supplies the operational and salary-cap logic in trade scenarios, and her scenes detail the negotiations, draft-board strategy, and compliance considerations behind high-profile roster moves.

‘Miracles from Heaven’ (2016) – Christy Beam

‘Miracles from Heaven’ is a faith-based drama from Sony’s Affirm Films label, directed by Patricia Riggen and adapted from Christy Beam’s memoir. Garner plays Christy Beam, a Texas mother seeking treatment for her daughter’s rare intestinal disorder, with Queen Latifah and Martin Henderson in supporting roles.

Production utilized Boston medical interiors for hospital sequences and Texas-set exteriors to reflect the family’s community context. The film emphasizes the diagnostic process, specialist referrals, and patient-family advocacy, and Garner’s performance is structured around medical consultations, insurance challenges, and the family’s interactions with healthcare providers.

‘Yes Day’ (2021) – Allison Torres

‘Yes Day’ is a family comedy released by Netflix, directed by Miguel Arteta and based on the children’s book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld. Garner stars as Allison Torres, a parent who agrees to a day of kid-chosen activities under a set of clear ground rules, alongside Edgar Ramírez and Jenna Ortega.

The production features Los Angeles-area locations, large-scale crowd sequences, and practical stunt gags designed for family viewing. The film’s premise incorporates checklists, time windows, and safety constraints for each activity, and Garner additionally served as a producer, aligning the adaptation with the source book’s kid-empowerment framework.

‘Daredevil’ (2003) – Elektra Natchios

In the Marvel-based feature ‘Daredevil’, directed by Mark Steven Johnson, Garner plays Elektra Natchios opposite Ben Affleck’s Matt Murdock. The film integrates courtroom scenes, vigilante sequences, and underworld conflicts, with supporting characters including Kingpin and Bullseye portrayed by Michael Clarke Duncan and Colin Farrell.

Elektra’s arc in ‘Daredevil’ introduced the character’s sai-based combat style and backstory elements that led to a subsequent solo spinoff. The production combined wire work, fight choreography, and stylized sound design to depict hero and antagonist powers, and Elektra’s storyline intersects with the film’s investigations into corruption and corporate crime.

‘Peppermint’ (2018) – Riley North

‘Peppermint’ is an action thriller directed by Pierre Morel, in which Garner portrays Riley North, a mother who trains for vigilantism following a gang-related tragedy. The cast includes John Ortiz, John Gallagher Jr., and Juan Pablo Raba, with sequences staged across downtown Los Angeles and surrounding neighborhoods.

The film features firearms and hand-to-hand choreography, tactical movement, and urban chase design, coordinated by stunt teams with prior experience in grounded action. Garner’s preparation reportedly included fight training and weapon handling to execute extended action beats, and the narrative tracks law-enforcement response, cartel dynamics, and community-level fallout.

Share your picks for favorite Jennifer Garner performances in the comments!