Jennifer Garner didn’t grow up dreaming of fame—or makeup. Raised in a strict West Virginia household, beauty wasn’t a focus. “We couldn’t have layers in our hair, perms, or color,” she said. Her parents valued discipline and modesty, not appearance. “I don’t think my parents ever said ‘You’re pretty,’” she recalled.

In college, she first heard she was attractive. “I was just like, ‘What?! Really? Are you sure you have the right person?’” Even then, she struggled with self-image. She wore thick stage makeup offstage and confessed, “If I used it, I would just look bruised.”

Garner worked her way up, ironing shirts between performances and walking miles to auditions. “I can do laundry,” she once offered in exchange for a place to sleep. Her breakthrough came in 1998 with Felicity.

Now admired for her talent and authenticity, Garner balances acting, motherhood, and philanthropy. “I am my own worst beauty advice,” she joked. At 53, she’s proof that grace, grit, and staying true to yourself leave a lasting impression—no glamour required.