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Jennifer Garner is opening up about the financial and career concerns she faced after separating from Ben Affleck, saying the end of their marriage forced her to take a harder look at her future as a working mother.
Garner, 54, discussed the experience during an appearance on the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast, reflecting on how much her professional life had changed while raising her three children with Affleck.
"I panicked when I was first out of my marriage and realized I had taken such a step back in my work," Garner said. She explained that the uncertainty surrounding her career quickly became a concern.
"Suddenly, I realized I don't know how long I'll be able to work," she said, noting that acting does not necessarily become more financially rewarding with age. "I was suddenly like, 'Wait a minute. I have to take care of myself. I have to take care of these kids.'"
Garner and Affleck share three children: Violet, 20, Fin, 17, and Samuel, 13. As she considered how to rebuild her career, Garner said remaining close to her children was a priority.
"I can work in Los Angeles. I can't leave these kids for six months at a time," she recalled telling her business manager. Although she enjoyed filming on location, she said, "That is not this time in my career."
That shift also contributed to Garner putting more energy into Once Upon a Farm, the organic children's food company she co-founded. The company went public earlier this year.
Garner also spoke candidly about the financial realities of being a celebrity. Despite her success, she said fame did not mean she could stop thinking about earning a living.
"It's not like you can just unfamous yourself," she said. "Life is expensive, and you still have to kind of figure out how you're gonna live."
She added that the situation became serious quickly because she had previously not spent much time thinking about money. "Oh, I need to be an earner here," she recalled realizing.
Garner said she does not regret the years she spent working less while her children were young. "I was really grateful for that opportunity," she said, adding that she felt she had experienced "the best of both worlds."
Garner and Affleck married in 2005 and announced their separation in 2015. Their divorce was finalized in 2018, and they have continued to co-parent their children
