She may be one of Hollywood’s more private stars, but Jennifer Garner has been pulled into the spotlight over the last year.
The 13 Going On 30 star, 52, is said to have played a key role in helping her ex-husband Ben Affleck through his split from Jennifer Lopez.
Affleck and Garner were married for 13 years until their divorce in 2018 and are parents to Violet, 19; Fin, 16; and Samuel, 12.
But as well as adopting a role of ‘marriage counsellor’ amid Affleck and Lopez’s divorce, Garner has been lending a hand in other ways, from volunteering during the devastating LA fires to how she supported ex Affleck through his challenging alcohol addiction battle.
The actress is adored by fans for her ‘girl next door’ image that has cemented her as one of Hollywood’s most relatable celebrities – but her desire to help others has left friends worried she has weighed herself down and neglected her own wellbeing.
So how did Garner earn her reputation as the unsung hero of Hollywood?
She may be one of Hollywood’s more private stars, but Jennifer Garner has been pulled into the spotlight over the last year – so how did she earn her reputation as the unsung hero of Hollywood? (Seen in September)
Supporting Affleck through alcohol addiction
Perhaps Garner’s compassion and affection for her ex husband was best displayed during Affleck’s addiction battle with alcohol.
After first undertaking a stint in rehab back in 2001, he also checked back into clinics in 2017 and 2018.
When he completed treatment in 2017, Affleck released a statement confirming he had been to rehab in which he thanked Jennifer for sticking by him.
‘I’m lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I’ve done the work I set out to do,’ he wrote.
His most recent stay in rehab was provoked by Garner and their three children, who turned up at his home with a sober coach following a wild partying stint with a Playboy model after he split from his TV producer girlfriend.
Affleck appeared emotional as he left his house in a car driven by Garner.The actor reportedly arrived at The Canyon live-in rehab facility, in Malibu, that same evening.
At the time, Affleck was said to have been off the wagon for ‘a while’ and knew he needed help before Garner stepped in and ‘read him the riot act’, according to Radar Online.
Perhaps Garner’s compassion and affection for her ex husband was best displayed during Affleck’s addiction battle with alcohol (Seen in March 2014)
‘She doesn’t want her kids to grow up without a dad,’ a source said, adding that she told him to stop acting ‘selfish and childish.
‘She believes he needs to start acting more like a dad and less like a kid.’
Once Affleck had completed his stay, he released another statement in which he thanked his loved ones, including Garner, for their support.
‘The support I have received from my family, colleagues, and fans means more to me than I can say,’ he wrote.
Volunteering during LA fires
Garner was widely praised during the LA fires for her tireless work volunteering, from helping feed victims, to passing out care packages.
Only days after the blazes began, Jennifer visited the Pacific Palisades community and talked to MSNBC as she volunteered for World Central Kitchen to feed victims affected by the tragic event.
‘Jen has been dedicating every waking hour to helping her friends who have lost everything in the fires,’ a source told DailyMail.com ‘She is helping her church, and she has been going non-stop.
‘She needs to take some time to relax but that is not how Jen is — not when she is passionate about something.’
Garner was widely praised during the LA fires for her tireless work volunteering, from helping feed victims, to passing out care packages
They continued: ‘The fires took a big toll on her and she lost a friend. She has been out there every day volunteering her time.’
Garner volunteered with chef Jose Andres and his World Central Kitchen to provide food for evacuees at various pop-up locations after the destructive inferno first broke out last month.
In an interview with MSNBC, the broken-hearted star revealed a friend of hers from the United Methodist Church, which she attends, had perished in the blaze.
‘I did lose a friend, and for our church it’s really tender so I don’t feel like we should talk about it yet,’ the Deadpool & Wolverine actress said. ‘She didn’t get out in time.’
‘Marriage counsellor’ in Affleck/Lopez split
Aflleck was heavily supported by his ex-wife as he navigated his shock split from Jennifer Lopez, 55, last year.
In the months before Lopez officially filed for divorce from the Argo star, Garner had adopted the role of ‘marriage counsellor’ to the struggling couple, with some friends fearing she had been forced to ‘play mediator.’
Affleck was reportedly fully aware of how many times his ex-wife stepped in to save him.
‘To Ben, Jen is superwoman,’ the insider said. ‘She has saved him many times and there is nothing in the world he would not do for her.
‘He is not super concerned for her right now. But if that changes he would drop everything to make sure she is OK.’
Aflleck was heavily supported by his ex-wife as he navigated his shock split from Jennifer Lopez, 55, last year (Seen in 2018)
It has been reported that the former duo ‘text, call, and communicate far more than they have over the past several years’ in the wake of his divorce from Lopez.
‘It used to be solely about the kids, but John feels like it could be more than just about their co-parenting relationship,’ an insider alleged.
They added: ‘He doesn’t feel threatened in terms of Jen ever getting back with Ben, but at the same time it’s hard not to feel jealous when it’s clear they have a strong connection and friendship.’
‘Particularly since Ben’s divorce and with the LA fires and everything going on,’ the exes ‘have found themselves leaning on each other more than ever, ‘ Page Six reported.
Private romance with CEO
Despite her closeness with ex Affleck, Garner has been dating CEO John Miller on and off since 2018.
The pair have kept their relationship out of the spotlight, but last month, Jen was spotted with a diamond ring on her left ring finger prompting speculation that she and John had gotten engaged.
Meanwhile, a source claimed in October that Jennifer and John are planning a wedding in Paris in the spring, where she allegedly went shopping for a bridal gown.
In December, an insider said Garner was ‘very happy with’ Miller and ‘spends a lot of time with him,’ seeing him ‘almost every day.’
But earlier this month rumours surfaced that Miller, 47, might feel threatened by his girlfriend’s ongoing bond with Affleck.
Despite her closeness with ex Affleck, Garner has been dating CEO John Miller on and off since 2018 (Seen in 2023)
A source told Page Six that Miller ‘isn’t thrilled’ about how much time the exes spend with each other.
The insider explained that Miller ‘knows Ben and Jen have been leaning on each other more than ever lately and have a really close relationship.’
Miller reportedly feels that ‘their growing bond is getting to be a bit much when Ben spends all the holidays with them like Christmas and Thanksgiving.’
However last Wednesday the rumours were dismissed, as another insider said: ‘Those close to them haven’t heard of any issues.’
Relatable ‘girl next door’ style
The actress is well-known for her signature ‘girl next door’ style and is often seen out-and-about in an array of laidback yet effortlessly stylish ensembles.
Garner is regularly seen out sporting sports leggings, casual overcoats, tracksuits and simple sweater and jeans look – offering up an everyday chic.
She stepped out in her signature stylish casual in Los Angeles on Wednesday when she caught up with a friend for a lunch date.
The star looked cosy in a thick grey sweater that she paired with a set of relaxed-fit jeans, and added a casual-cool touch with a pair of black leather loafers with decorative gold laces.
The actress is well-known for her signature ‘girl next door’ style and is often seen out-and-about in an array of laidback yet effortlessly stylish ensembles (Seen in September)
But as well as her running errands chic, Garner can also make her casual ensembles red carpet ready.
Back In September, she blended perfectly into Paris Fashion Week as she put on a stylish display in an elegant navy ensemble, which included a chic buttoned jacket and matching smart trousers.
She made a fashion statement with her navy Dior tote bag, which retails for £3,050, during her outing in the French capital.
Garner finished the look with black heel boots and accessorised with dark shades while her brown locks were slicked in a low-bun.
And that same week she donned her full glam as she wore a black velvet corset dress, which boasted a low-cut neckline, a corset boning structure, and a midi-length.
She added inches to her frame with a pair of black court stiletto heels and elevated her look with an oversized black jacket, which she hung loosely over her shoulders.
