Jennifer Garner talked to ET‘s Cameron Mathison about the celebrities who make her starstruck, during the The Tribes of Palos Verdes’ junket on Friday.
“I am starstruck by children’s book authors, big time,” she revealed. “I met Marla Frazee and was just, didn’t even know what to say to her. I am starstruck by ballerinas, big time. I am starstruck…I heard this woman play the saxophone the other day, she was so amazing. I couldn’t look at her after. Just anyone who can do something that you can’t do.”
She added, “Barefoot Contessa!”
Her co-star, Maika Monroe, couldn’t help but praise Garner. The duo play mother and daughter in the new film, which focuses on their family’s move to the peaceful and wealthy suburb of Palos Verdes in Los Angeles.
“This comes from the bottom of my heart. I don’t think I’ve met a more genuine, more talented, literally, it was a hard movie for both of us. It was just, every day was a different thing, and what Jen brought to set, I have so much respect,” she confessed. “I wanna grow up to be you.”
“Oh my gosh,” Garner responded, agreeing to their emotional roles they play.
“The character is something so different from anything I’ve played before. I usually play characters who are more kind of buttoned-up than I am in real life. To play somebody who is this just coming apart at the seams was exciting, terrifying but exciting,” she said. “I went home to kids and a busy house, so I didn’t really have a choice [of whether or not to shake it off].”
The Daredevil star also talked about her first time moving to Los Angeles, confessing that she found similarities between herself and her character’s difficult adjustment at first.
“I did have a hard time leaving. I lived in New York first, and I moved out here and felt like, ‘What did I do?'” she admitted. “I really had to make the decision to be happy and figure out what the things are that I love about it here, and do them constantly. They were hiking, farmers markets, cooking, yoga… I found a few things and the work followed.”
Currently, Garner is busy preparing for the action movie, Peppermint, for which she shared her intense training on Instagram.
Garner also discussed about the significance of supporting women in the industry.
“Just keep seeking out women because we don’t get to work together very much and you have to insist on having women as part of your job life, your career – not just outside of work, but work. And if you find one, hold onto them,” she said.
“It’s your responsibility to call me if you need something, and it’s mine to say, ‘Come on up, what can I do? How can I help you?'” Garner added, addressing Monroe. “Look after the other women around you and make sure you are going around them if you need them.”
The Tribes of Palos Verdes opens in theaters on Dec. 1.
