TV & Movies
Jennifer Garner Recalls Crying After Her Felicity Audition
“It was such a powerful scene.”
Jennifer Garner is looking back on a particularly “emotional” audition. In an interview on The Ringer’s Dear Felicity podcast, the actor recalled trying out for the TV drama Felicity, which ran from 1998 to 2002.
Her first audition — for what “must have been the breakup scene,” she said — was front of Felicity creators J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves.
“I remember going into the bathroom after, and I needed to cry,” said Garner, who ultimately landed a guest role. “I needed to hide in the bathroom stall and finish the cry that I started in the audition, because it was such a powerful scene.”
Speaking to podcast host Greg Grunberg, who was also in Felicity, Garner said that Abrams encouraged her to re-audition for the role. “That makes sense to me,” Grunberg interjected. “Because you’re not very good. I totally get it. I mean, notes, notes — you know what? Let me give her a block of notes to take home.”
Garner then clarified that she prefers “a ton of feedback” during auditions. “I love that about working with J.J. and with Matt,” she continued. “They aren’t just like, ‘OK, that seems fine. You have another one in you?’ They have an idea, and they’re helping guide you to the best version of whatever you show up with.”
The 13 Going on 30 star concluded, “After the first read, then I really was invested and was like, ‘Oh gosh, I really wanna do this.’”
Garner Was Married To Another Felicity Actor
Airing for four seasons, Felicity centered on the college experiences of titular character Felicity Porter (Keri Russell) as she left her California hometown behind for New York University.
Garner appeared in Seasons 1 and 2 as Hannah Bibb, the ex-girlfriend of Noel Crance, played by her then-husband, Scott Foley.
Soon after, the actor reunited with co-creator J.J. Abrams on the sci-fi drama Alias (2001–2006), in which Garner starred as CIA agent Sydney Bristow.
