Jennifer Garner talks about career impact after split from Ben Affleck
Los Angeles, June 4
Hollywood star Jennifer Garner said she dramatically reduced her workload while raising her family and then worked even less following her separation with her Hollywood star husband Ben Affleck.
The actress, who has three children with her Affleck, told InStyle: "First of all, when you're in a performance kind of role, you give up a year/year-and-a-half of performance while you are pregnant, having a baby, recovering."
The actress, who has given out films such as 13 Going on 30, Juno and Dallas Buyers Club,
added: "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."
Garner and Affleck, married in 2005, welcomed their eldest daughter the same year and announced their separation in 2015 before finalising their divorce in 2018, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
Despite the end of their marriage, the pair have remained committed co-parents and have frequently been photographed together at family events over the years.
She also told InStyle her children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel found it difficult whenever work took her away from home, but said they were "such bricks" about losing time with their mother.
Speaking about filming her new project The Five-Star Weekend with older children, Garner said: "To have this year and a half where I just indulged (in acting), because 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 pick-ups and drop-offs and making it home for dinner."
Garner said the experience reminded her acting remains an important part of her identity.
She added: "I relate to that feeling of like, 'Okay, I gave everything to mothering. I'm still their mom, I'm not going anywhere, I'm still all-in'. I'm also really grateful to have this part of my life back."
The actress added she no longer feels guilty about balancing work and family commitments.
She said: "I don't apologise to my kids for it."
Instead, Garner said she thanks them for supporting her career while maintaining boundaries that allow her to remain present in their daily lives.
She said: "But that's part of life. Working hard is part of life, and messing up is part of life. Tripping and falling-there's room for all of it."
— IANS
Reader Comments
For all her privilege, Jennifer Garner's story is still relatable. In Indian households, many mothers give up careers for years after children, and the pressure to be "all-in" as a mom is immense. Glad she found her way back to acting.
Honest and inspiring. Garner shows that it's okay for parents to want their own identity too. In India, moms are often expected to just disappear into motherhood. This is a good reminder that we can be both—devoted parents and individuals with dreams. 🌸
Respectful disagreement here. While her honesty is appreciated, I feel some of the 'upheaval' was self-inflicted by marrying a Hollywood star known for drama. But I suppose every family has its struggles. At least she's prioritizing her kids now.
Love this! As a working mom in India, I feel this in my bones. The guilt is real, but we can't pour from an empty cup. Garner saying "I don't apologize for working" is empowering. Also, co-parenting after divorce is something we can learn from. 💪
Honestly, it's sad that in India, many people would call this 'selfish' of her. But she's right—work is part of life, and kids learn resilience from seeing parents pursue their passions. Respect to Jennifer Garner for saying it out loud.
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