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Grew up in a less urban locale compared to Los Angeles, as recounted by Jennifer Garner.

Actress Jennifer Garner shares thoughts on her West Virginia upbringing and its enduring impact on her personal life and career, despite her present-day Hollywood residence.

Jennifer Garner recalls her childhood spent in a town smaller than Los Angeles.
Jennifer Garner recalls her childhood spent in a town smaller than Los Angeles.

Grew up in a less urban locale compared to Los Angeles, as recounted by Jennifer Garner.

In the heart of West Virginia, a small town named Charleston played a significant role in shaping the life and career of actress Jennifer Garner. Born and raised in this close-knit community, Garner found herself surrounded by a unique blend of personalities that left an indelible mark on her.

Charleston, unlike Los Angeles where Garner later pursued her acting career, was not especially large but was not a small town either. It was a place where the local sheriff could be found on the community theater stage, and where heart surgeons mingled with neighbors at the local store. This environment instilled in Garner a deep appreciation for close-knit communities and authentic characters, values that have become integral to her personal life and artistic choices.

Garner's family life in Charleston was typical yet special. Raised under strict family rules, with a church-going routine, and a close-knit relationship with her parents and two sisters, she credits these roots for grounding her and contributing to her choice of roles that often emphasize family and community themes.

This connection to her roots is evident in her current projects. Garner is currently starring in a scripted podcast series called The Good Life, inspired by Ty Burrell's childhood. In the series, she plays a mother who leaves her corporate career to help run a general store in a rural town. This role feels familiar to Garner, given her small-town upbringing.

In addition to The Good Life, Garner is also involved in The Five-Star Weekend, a new series based on the Elin Hilderbrand novel. The series features a food blogger in Nantucket, showcasing Garner's continued love for layered characters and meaningful storytelling.

When Garner takes her children with her on location, she makes an effort to get to know the local community. She and her children would get library cards and get to know local neighbors or storekeepers, emulating the connection she had in Charleston.

Reflecting on her roots, Garner acknowledges that they continue to shape her life and work today. She values the sense of connection she had in Charleston and tries to recreate it in her personal and professional life. For Garner, building community wherever she goes has always been important.

In conclusion, Jennifer Garner's upbringing in Charleston, West Virginia, has played a crucial role in her life and career. The values she learned in this close-knit community—appreciation for genuine human connections, the importance of family, and the power of community—have become the cornerstone of her work in Hollywood.

  1. Jennifer Garner, despite living amongst celebrities and pursuing a career in entertainment, maintains a deep connection to her roots in Charleston, West Virginia, where she grew up.
  2. Garner's ongoing projects often reflect her small-town upbringing, as seen in her current role in a scripted podcast series, The Good Life, about a mother running a general store in a rural town.
  3. in addition to The Good Life, Garner is also involved in the new series The Five-Star Weekend, based on Elin Hilderbrand's novel, which showcases layered characters and meaningful storytelling.
  4. When working on a location, Garner makes a conscious effort to immerse herself in the local community, getting library cards and making friends with neighbors or storekeepers, much like she did in Charleston.

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