It was like the best time of my life; the best time and the worst time because, fortunately, I didn’t die. I don’t have any permanent damage and it’s turned out okay. I got my career back but, at the time, it looked like I was gonna lose everything. But I got to spend a year with my son. I got to put the brakes on on a career that was starting to feel out of control for me. I wasn’t enjoying acting anymore. I was looking more toward the acquisitions, doing studio pictures. I got involved in the business side of it and was forgetting the reason why I started doing this in the first place.
It just made me more aware of what I want. It changed my priorities and changed my values in a strange way. It made me realize how fragile this is and, in the end, they’re gonna throw dirt on you and I want to look at my life when I’m 70 and say, "That was my life. I lived my life. I didn’t live my agent’s life. I didn’t live my mom’s life. I lived a life that is totally authentic to me."
Are you still interested in doing live theater?
Yes. I really miss it and I’ve had some opportunities to go back to it. I haven’t because I do feel like I’ve had a chance to…. I’ve just been more interested in doing film right now and I don’t want to go away from my family for six months, which was what I would have had to have done if I did the play on Broadway. It’s something that I miss desperately. I do readings at the public library. I just did a benefit scene night for my old acting teacher. I did a benefit of “Waiting for Godot” about four months ago. I’ve been able to do these things that aren’t big public openings but still keep my foot in the theater because I do love it so much. I will be returning to it. I just am feeling like I’m squaring some things away. You do feel like you had better take it when you can.
What was your first stage role?
It was a musical called “The Runaways” and I played the detective who is looking for some runaway kids. I was doing Peter Falk as “Columbo.” It was like (in Peter Falk Columbo voice), “Can I ask you a question?” I thought that was great acting.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Interview with Jennifer Garner
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