Jennifer Garner 'I've Never Been Cool'

The Movie Star Mama's Living the Simple Life – and We Love Her for It!

- Adrianna Zappavigna

When she isn’t dazzling fans on the Oscars red carpet or turning herself into a meme for a laugh, Jennifer Garner is busy trying to do it all. Acting, parenting, baking, farming… Jen’s schedule is packed, but she wouldn’t change a thing. ‘There’s no more rich time in women’s lives than when you have your babies and when you’re trying to figure out how to parent them and balance everything,’ she says.

Notorious for playing by the rules, Jen, 45, happily admits, ‘In my teens, I was never part of the cool crowd. I am the model middle child. I am patient and I like to take care of everyone.’ And for her latest role in new film Love, Simon – as mum to a closeted gay teenager – Jen does just that.

LOVE, SIMON

Though the movie is written as a comedy, Jen’s believes the emotional weight and storyline will also send a clear message to struggling teens. ‘I hope that they see this and don’t stay alone in their head,’ she says, ‘because that’s the scariest thing – when you’re alone with yourself in your head, especially for teenagers. That can be a big, big, wide, dark place.’

ACTRESS VS. SUPERMUM

Nailing it as an on-screen mum, Jen’s first priority off-screen is her family. ‘There’s an internal battle. I need to work… and I need to be home with my kids and the kids win,’ she says. ‘I live my life at these two extremes. I’m either a full-time stay-at-home mum or a full-time actress,’ she says. ‘I have a lot of help. And for that I’m very grateful.’ Oh, and don't forget: ‘Kids are smarter than you are. So just be ready for that,’ she laughs.

ROMANCE REALITY CHECK