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Jennifer Garner is reflecting on how her 2015 split from Ben Affleck reshaped her life and career.
In a new interview with InStyle published June 3, she explained that the breakup created what she described as "upheaval" in their family, leading her to step back from acting for several years. "When my kids were little, I worked so little, and then we had such an upheaval in our family, that I really hardly worked for a long time," she said.
Garner noted that even before the divorce, motherhood had already slowed her career. Pregnancy and recovery meant long breaks from performance roles, and though she managed projects like Juno and The Kingdom, she often found herself balancing work with breastfeeding and childcare. At one point, her agent suggested she either retire or take on Dallas Buyers Club in 2013, which she ultimately joined.
After finalizing her divorce in 2018, Garner leaned further into family life, prioritizing school pickups, drop-offs, and home routines while Affleck continued filming major projects. Now, with her children older, she has embraced a return to acting. She recently starred in The Last Thing He Told Me and will headline The Five Star Weekend, premiering July 9 on Peacock.
Garner admitted that indulging in acting again feels like a gift. "This job is very selfish. It's all about your schedule. It's not about what the kids have going on at school. It's not about pickups and drop-offs and making it home for dinner," she explained. Still, she emphasized that she remains fully committed to motherhood: "I gave everything to mothering. I'm still their mom, I'm not going anywhere, I'm still all-in."
Garner made it clear that she doesn't carry guilt about working while raising her children. Instead of apologizing, she expresses gratitude for their understanding and support. For her, putting in effort at work is simply part of life, just as making mistakes or stumbling along the way is. She believes those experiences are all part of what it means to live fully.
Garner said she now approaches acting with joy and gratitude, determined to balance her career with family while accepting that imperfection is part of the journey.
