Jennifer Garner is opening up about one of the hardest seasons of her life and how it reshaped both her career and her perspective on motherhood.
In a new interview with InStyle, the actress reflected on the emotional toll of her highly publicized divorce from actor Ben Affleck and revealed that the upheaval in their family life caused her to step away from work for years while focusing on their three children.
“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 shared.
The “Alias” star and Affleck first met while filming the 2001 movie “Pearl Harbor” before reconnecting years later on the set of “Daredevil.” The couple married in 2005 and announced their split in 2015 after a decade together.
At the time, the pair released a joint statement saying they would move forward “with love and friendship for one another” while remaining committed to co-parenting their children.
Now, years later, Garner says the experience taught her valuable lessons about grace, imperfection and self-compassion — especially as a working mom.
“You have to raise yourself at the same time,” she told InStyle. “And just be so radically kind to yourself about how imperfect it is.”
Garner admitted that trying to perfectly balance career and family simply isn’t realistic.
“There’s no such thing as balance. There’s no such thing as doing it right,” she explained. “And when the big moments happen, you are okay, and that’s on you to know and understand so your child feels your okayness.”
Her comments echo earlier reflections she made this year during an appearance on Bustle’s “One Nightstand” podcast, where she spoke candidly about parenting after divorce.
“When your kids grow up in two separate households, I become mom and dad, and he becomes dad and mom,” Garner said. “You kind of can’t help it, right?”
Still, she believes there can be growth even through painful transitions.
“There’s a little bit of loss in that, but there’s also something gained in that,” she added.
Despite the heartbreak of their separation, Garner has consistently spoken respectfully about Affleck through the years. In a 2016 interview with Vanity Fair, she famously described him as “the love of my life.”
“I didn’t marry the big fat movie star; I married him,” she said at the time. “I would go back and remake that decision.”
Affleck has also publicly praised Garner and acknowledged the lasting bond they share as parents. During a 2020 appearance on “Good Morning America,” the actor admitted the divorce was deeply painful.
“I didn’t want to get divorced,” Affleck said. “I really didn’t want to be a split family with my children.”
Still, he emphasized the importance of maintaining respect and unity for the sake of their children.
“When you have children with somebody, you’re connected to them forever,” he said. “I’m very lucky she is the mother of my children.”
These days, Garner appears to be embracing a healthier outlook on work and life. The actress is currently starring in Peacock’s upcoming adaptation of “The Five-Star Weekend” and says she no longer feels guilty about pursuing her career.
“When I work, I don’t apologize to my kids for it,” Garner told InStyle. “Working hard is part of life, and messing up is part of life. Tripping and falling — there’s room for all of it.”
For many parents navigating life’s unexpected challenges, Garner’s honesty serves as a reminder that healing often comes slowly — and that grace, both for ourselves and others, matters along the way.