October 6, 2002

Actress Jennifer Garner Gives Speech

By The Associated Press

GRANVILLE, Ohio (AP) - Being nominated for an Emmy hasn't changed "Alias" star Jennifer Garner. She's still a procrastinator.

"If I've agreed to give a speech to a million people, I put it off until the plane ride," she said Saturday night in a speech at alma mater Denison University.

"I have nothing to teach you. I'm jealous of all of you. I would love nothing more than to stop time and do college over again."

Jon Farris, head of the Denison theater department, said Garner was the best student he has ever had.

"Not the most talented, but nobody knew how to work the way she knew how to work," Farris said. "We noticed that from the first week she was on campus. ... She had a real aptitude for learning the craft of acting."

Garner plays graduate student/secret agent Sydney Bristow on "Alias," which airs Sunday nights on ABC. The 1994 Denison graduate was asked to speak as part of the school's Provost Alumni Scholar Series.

She thanked Denison for giving her confidence.

"We are a social school, and that's a good thing," said Garner, nominated this year for best actress in a drama series.

"It's good in life to be able to get through a cocktail conversation. It gets you jobs."

© AP 2002

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