Jennifer Garner's 8 Best Movies

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of 13 Going on 30, look back at the actress's most iconic roles.

“13 Going On 30” (2004)

Since the '90s, Jennifer Garner has become a familiar face in movies across a variety of genres. After getting recognition for her leading role in the spy series Alias, the actress became one of Hollywood's household names. With more than 10 awards and decades of films under her belt, she's made us swoon as a 2000s rom-com queen in movies like Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, and she's made us cry in serious tear-jerker dramas like Dallas Buyers Club.

However, it's no secret Garner's most memorable role was playing Jenny in the romantic comedy 13 Going on 30. Its plot focuses on Garner's character, an unpopular schoolgirl who wishes to be "thirty, flirty, and thriving" on her birthday and is transformed into her grown up self. Praised by critics and viewers for its humour and messages about popularity and being true to yourself, the film was released in 2004 and is considered a classic.

Regardless of her role—starring big or small, comedic or dramatic—there's no doubt Garner has established herself as an iconic actress. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of 13 Going On 30, L'OFFICIEL looks back on some of Garner's best movie roles throughout the years.

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Cheryl Ann, “Catch Me If You Can” (2002): Garner plays a small role in the Steven Spielberg directed classic starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In the film, Garner plays a call girl in one scene.

Jenna Rink, “13 Going On 30” (2004): In the iconic 2000s rom-com, Garner plays the older Jenna Rink, a teenager-turned-adult when she wishes to be 30.

Vanessa Loring, “Juno” (2007): The 2007 film directed by Jason Reitman received incredible praise for its sincere script and incredible acting. Garner plays the prospective adoptive mother of Juno’s child.

Janet Mayes, "The Kingdom" (2007): This acclaimed action drama features a stellar cast, including Jamie Foxx, Jason Bateman, and Jennifer Garner, showing a different dimension to not only the actor’s abilities, but to a commonly told tale of United States Army involvement in the Middle East. Garner plays Janet Mayes, one of the elite agents of the U.S. government assembled to infiltrate and destroy a terrorist cell in Saudi Arabia.

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Jenny Perotti, "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" (2009): Starring opposite Matthew McConaughey, Garner is the only woman he had ever loved. When he sees her at his brother's wedding, he becomes haunted by his womanizing habits.

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Dr. Eve Saks, “Dallas Buyers Club” (2013): Garner takes on the role of Dr. Eve Saks in the Oscar-winning biographical drama Dallas Buyers Club, alongside Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto.

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Emily Spier, “Love, Simon” (2018): In this charming romantic comedy-drama, Garner stars as the mother of Simon, a high schooler who is struggling with revealing his sexuality and falls in love with an anonymous peer online.

Laura Pickler, "Butter" (2011): This endearing film sees the actress as the wife of a butter-carving champion in Iowa who decides to compete for the first time.