Jennifer Garner was born on April 17, 1972, in Houston, Texas, but grew up in West Virginia. After studying theatre at Denison University, she began acting as an understudy at the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City. She made her on-screen debut in the television film “Zoya” in 1995. Jennifer got her first big break after landing the lead role in the television series “Alias,” which aired from 2001 until 2006. During this time, she also began to make a real name for herself in the industry by starring in a variety of highly successful films, including “13 Going On 30,” “Daredevil” and “Elektra.” She formed a friendship with Ben Affleck while starring together in “Pearl Harbor” in 2001 and “Daredevil” in 2003, and they married in 2005.
Jennifer has three children — son, Samuel Garner Affleck, and daughters Violet Anne Affleck and Seraphina Rose Elizabeth Affleck — with Ben, to whom she was married until 2018. Although the pair announced their intention to split in 2015, just three years after Samuel was born, the two movie stars are often pictured together with their kids, making it seem like family is important to both. While Jennifer is reportedly single now, she focuses on her kids, career, and new work endeavors.
The star surprised many when she announced that she had bought a piece of property that means a lot to her family. Her grandfather originally bought a piece of land back in 1936 near Locust Grove in Oklahoma, where Jennifer’s mother would eventually grow up. Now, the actress has turned the farm into one of her most successful projects.
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Garner is a large advocate for health and wellness. On the March 2021 episode of Giovanna Fletcher’s “Happy Mum, Happy Baby” podcast, speaking to everything from her post-baby body to the reason why she thinks gratitude is the best way to move on in life.
Garner kicks off her podcast appearance by speaking about women’s bodies post-pregnancy. Garner, who has had three children, says that while some women are able to “bounce back” immediately after having kids, she has had different experiences.
“It’s incredible. I have so many girlfriends who have that physique, and I’m so happy for them,” she told Fletcher, only to add, “I am not one of them. That is not my gig.”
But that doesn’t mean that Garner isn’t fit — far from it. According to Woman’s Health, the actress works with professional trainer Simone De La Rue to stay in shape.
“We’ll do something that’s traditional strength training, and the next minute we’ll be dancing to build agility and core strength,” De La Rue told Woman’s Health. “I really mix it up, and we’re never doing one thing. She does everything, which is incredible!”
If there’s any advice worth taking from this podcast episode — or many of the body-positive comments Garner has made over the years — it’s that being grateful for one’s body is important.
“It’s just a body. Be grateful to it. It carried you this far. It carried babies for you. What else do you want? My goodness.”
Garner also has tips for anyone struggling with their own feelings toward themselves and their appearances and encourages people to spend time away from looking at their reflection in the mirror. “When you start getting super critical of yourself, turn around, pivot in that spot and go do something nice for someone else,” the actress said.
It’s clear Jennifer walks the talk as she once made an incredible decision connected to her family legacy. According to her mother, Patricia Garner, Jennifer’s grandfather had purchased a 20-acre property in 1936 using a $700 bonus he received as a World War I veteran. There, Patricia and her family stayed and farmed. However, after Patricia’s father passed away in 1962, her mother sold the farm to her son, who went on to sell the farm to another brother in 2008. Finally, in 2017, Jennifer decided to buy the property, which had expanded by 35 acres, so that it would remain in the family.
Soon after, Jennifer co-founded the company, Once Upon A Farm in 2018, hoping to make a real difference in the lives of her customers. According to the company website, the farm aims to help families all over the nation. “Once upon a time… we dreamed of bringing baby food back to the roots with organic fruits and veggies harvested from local farmers, blended with love, and served fresh from the fridge. We dreamed of feeling less stressed about mealtimes because we could feed our little ones foods that give them all the nutrients they need – and then some!” the website stated.
Jennifer’s farm is a large part of the company’s success. Her farm in Oklahoma grows and sustains pumpkins, blueberries, field peas, rye, wildflowers, and honeybees. The brand doesn’t just help families give their families clean snacks, but embody healthy living. The company Garner’s farm contributes greatly to has been given several awards. Recognized by Adweek, Forbes, and Red Tricycle, the company was awarded “Best Kids Food Brand 2021!”
Jennifer Garner (2016), (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images)
The star often posts to her Instagram about her hard work and the company’s success. In October 2018, she shared a photo of herself in overalls and wielding a shovel as she worked on the land. “Look, Mom, your farm has come to life!” she wrote in the caption while listing new additions to the farm that included 700 blueberry bushes, 50 fuyu persimmon trees and three cows.
In October 2020, Garner shared that Once Upon A Farm uses her sweet potatoes. “My, oh my, Sweet Potato Pie! 🍠Nutritious, delicious, apple of my eye. 🍎🍏,” she wrote. She added, “@onceuponafarm’s next blend is inspired by (and including!) sweet potatoes grown on my family farm, with the delicious fall flavors of my Grandma Exie Mae’s recipe (minus the sugar, of course). 🧑🏻🌾 🚜 Keep your eyes peeled for Farmer Jen’s Sweet Potato Pie.”
Once Upon A Farm’s mission of providing organic, nutritious food aligns with Jennifer’s advocacy for health and wellness. In October 2023, Jennifer shared her concern about ensuring her children are always getting good nutrition. She told People:
“I’m not really relaxed about it… Moms get how hard it is. We just want to make life easier for (our children), and give them food they can trust and don’t have to stress over.”
She said this was one of the reasons she was drawn to establishing Once Upon A Farm and getting down and dirty at her family’s Oklahoma farm.
“I could never have imagined that I would do anything like produce related, but then once I was working with brands in different capacities, it started to feel like, wow, I wonder if I could be part of something that’s good from the ground up,” she related.
