Jennifer Garner and Jessica Biel bonded while filming Valentine’s Day and have been friends ever since. On a rare girls’ night out, the stars dish about the difficulties of (usually) being the only woman on set, the pros and cons of having a famous significant other, and whether or not either of them really “has it all”.

“She’s not that tall, but you can tell she’s strong,” says Jessica Biel, talking about her 55-pound pit bull mix—but she could just as well be talking about herself. Biel and I are discussing our love for our dogs (she sleeps with hers as I do with mine) as we wait for her new best friend, Jennifer Garner, to join us for dinner at Madeo, a legendary Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills where Al Pacino is said to keep a standing reservation. The hostess has seated us in a booth in the farthest corner from the door in an attempt to offer some privacy, but Biel’s beauty can’t go unnoticed. Fresh from a taping of The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien, Biel has her hair perfectly styled, her makeup perfectly applied. There are sequins sparkling on the T-shirt under her open cardigan sweater. And just moments ago, the whole restaurant watched as she gracefully strode toward this back booth. (more…)

Jennifer Garner has been dumped on Valentine’s Day, started dating someone on Valentine’s Day and, not surprisingly for a Hollywood star of her stature and beauty, has received her fair share of flowers.

And her sweetheart, Ben Affleck, is no stranger to the ancient art of flower giving.

“I do like to get flowers,” says his wife of 4 1/2 years. “I’m a real sucker if somebody sends me a beautiful bouquet with a thoughtful card. (more…)

Jennifer Garner’s appearance at the governor’s State of the State address proved that even lawmakers can get a little star struck.

The Hollywood actress took her seat behind Gov. Joe Manchin’s family Wednesday night in the House Chamber at the Capitol Complex just before the bell and gavel sounded. (more…)

When actress Jennifer Garner visits Capitol Hill, she lobbies on behalf of an issue that doesn’t have the pizazz of global warming or the chicness of Tibetan independence. For Garner, childhood education is what matters.

Raised in West Virginia, the 37-year-old star of the hit TV series “Alias” — who also has movies including “13 Going on 30,” “Juno” and “The Kingdom” to her credit — has always had a soft spot for the issue. (more…)

School drop-offs, diaper changes and the occasional love scene—all the while being stalked by the paparazzi. Jennifer Garner masters the art of motherhood, Hollywood-style.

Jennifer Garner is not someone you’re likely to catch pitching a “Do you know who I am?” fit on tmz.com anytime soon. Widely known as an antidiva, the West Virginia–bred mother of two makes her own baby food and isn’t above flying coach (en route to her W photo shoot, she was accidently booked in economy and declined the gate agent’s offer of an upgrade). It turns out, however, that the 37-year-old actress does occasionally leverage her fame to get what she wants—it’s just that her desires are a little different from those of her Hollywood peers. Lately, for example, she has been attempting to procure an introduction to Ina Garten, the cheerfully rotund television cook better known as the Barefoot Contessa. “I know somebody who is a friend of hers, and she says she’s going to get us together,” says Garner, an enthusiastic home cook who seems to have a history of obsessing over celebrity chefs (she owns a Labrador retriever named Martha Stewart). “I tried to get on Ina’s show. I tried to use my, well, you know…I say, use what you have to make the world better or for yourself! But eventually she just said, ‘I’m sorry, I only use my real friends on the show.’ I felt like, What are you saying? That we’re not friends? I know everything about you!”
(more…)

Jennifer Garner reckons the truth is over-rated. Unlike her character in Ricky Gervais’ new comedy The Invention Of Lying, the 37-year-old actress has no problem telling porky pies.

In fact, she considers fibs to be a part of the very fabric of society. “Can you imagine teaching a child to play cards and every time they play you say, ‘You lose. You lose again. You’re a big loser. You won’t win until you’re 12!’ ” (more…)

British comic Ricky Gervais has one kicky concept behind his directorial debut, The Invention of Lying. On an alternate earth, humanity lacks the capacity for lying so truth-telling is just telling. People may speak the truth, but have no sense of humor and no idea of fiction. As a result, they do reveal it all–including how inflated their views of themselves can be.

As Mark Bellison (Gervais) struggles to survive at a mediocre television company, the pug-nosed, pudgy writer endures a rivalry with the better looking, more successful and far more arrogant Brad Kessler (Rob Lowe). Mark suffers through miserable dates his mother encourages him to go on. When he meets tall, gorgeous Anna McDoogles (Jennifer Garner) on one of those dates, he falls for her and she tells him that despite the fact they get along, and that he’s a nice guy, she can’t continue to see him–let alone marry him–because she’s way too out of his league; she’ll never have his children. Since he’s just not up to her in looks or physique, their relationship has to remain platonic. (more…)

Jennifer Garner is ensconced on a plush sofa in a fancy hotel suite. Although some actresses have displayed a lot of flesh during the Toronto International Film Festival, she is primly attired in a pastel sleeveless sheath. Her long dark hair is perfectly coiffed. Garner looks dressed more for a garden show than one of the world’s largest film festivals.

Although she and Ben Affleck wed almost five years ago and his made-for-the-National Enquirer romance with Jennifer Lopez seems in the distant past, it is still hard not to think of Affleck’s second Jennifer as the antithesis of his first. Cool, not hot. (more…)

“It is absolutely crazy in our house,” Jennifer Garner said. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The actress is married to fellow actor Ben Affleck, and they are the parents of two daughters, 4-year-old Violet and Seraphina Rose Elizabeth, born in January.

“The goal is that everyone is just happy and healthy,” Garner said.

“The second child is easier, and the experience of bringing a baby into the world is easier,” she conceded. “But the overall thing is chaos. It’s happy chaos. Let me just say that life is very full these days.” (more…)

Jennifer Garner may have her hands full with two kids and a new film, but that didn’t stop her from taking time out to increase awareness as an ambassador for Save the Children.

The Invention of Lying star spoke to reporters about her passion for children and why she has no problem asking for help as a working mom. (more…)