Who Is Jennifer Garner’s First Spouse Who Was Called ‘Hotter than Ben Affleck’

Before her high-profile marriage to Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner’s love life had already captured public attention through her first marriage to another celebrity, who later became a subject of fan comparisons.

Garner’s marriage to Affleck lasted much longer than her first to Scott Foley. Like her romance with the Oscar-winning director, the actress’s relationship with Foley also began through work.

Their paths first crossed in 1998 on “Felicity,” where Garner guest-starred as the long-distance girlfriend of Foley’s character. This project not only introduced the brunette beauty to Foley but also to J.J. Abrams, who later helped catapult her to fame with “Alias.”

As their personal relationship blossomed on the set of “Felicity,” Foley’s professional life as an actor, director, and screenwriter also progressed. He showcased his versatility across popular TV shows and films, such as “Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” and has also appeared in the film “Scream 3.”

Foley and Garner married in 2000, a year before the premiere of “Alias.” Garner made another appearance on “Felicity” during its last season in 2002, by then already a prominent name.

This is when the romance between the two stars blossomed as they peaked as a couple before reaching A-list status in Hollywood. While co-starring in “Felicity,” the on-screen duo enjoyed their honeymoon phase in their relationship as up-and-coming stars.

However, as Foley was making a name for himself in Hollywood, his marriage to Garner was facing challenges behind the scenes. This tension culminated in their split.

Their separation was announced in April 2003, not long after Garner appeared alone at the Oscars, setting off breakup rumors. The formal separation date was documented as March 23, just one week before the Oscars.

Garner filed for divorce in May, citing irreconcilable differences. Despite the challenges, the split was relatively amicable. She later explained the impact of their fast-paced Hollywood lifestyle on their marriage.

“Everything is speeded up here — it is a fast-lane life, and if something is not working, it is considered best to end it without much thought,” said the Golden Globe Award winner. She noted they would still probably be married had they lived in her hometown, West Virginia.

Foley dispelled rumors of other romantic involvements being the cause of their breakup. “Nobody else was involved,” he assured in an interview, adding “There was no other relationship, there was no infidelity, nothing.”

Meanwhile, Garner reflected on their divorce, saying, “I wish I’d known to wait for marriage until I was 30 or over. I did marry in my twenties and I found divorce a crushing experience.”

Garner admitted she never thought she would become a divorce statistic. Once she did, she was gutted but eventually picked up the pieces. Her divorce did not discourage her from remarrying either as she believed she would find someone to commit to and raise kids with.

She also praised Foley in an interview, saying, “Oh, he’s a great guy. We were full-on grown-ups, but looking back, I’m aware we did not know what hit us. We didn’t have a shot.”

After the amicable end to their marriage, both Garner and Foley continued to thrive in their respective careers. Foley, embracing new roles and family life, remarried actress Marika Domińczyk in 2007 and found success in “Scandal.” Meanwhile, Garner’s career took a romantic turn when she met Ben Affleck.

“Well, it helped that we were both single at the time,” she commented on their relationship. “He’s a very good writer,” she added, dispelling any notions that their romance was anything but genuine.

Foley has remained gracious about Garner, stating they occasionally see each other and remain cordial. “I mean, we do not keep in contact because she has her own family. I have mine,” he mentioned during a SiriusXM interview in September 2021.

In addition to relations with his ex-wife, Foley has also been compared to Garner’s former spouse, Affleck, concerning looks. Affleck was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2002. Several years later, Foley also bagged the title in 2013.

Of his reaction to the title, Foley said, “I was flattered of course. My wife was confused. My publicist was surprised. I think my reaction was probably the most honest.”

Foley admitted he has never considered himself sexy. However, fans beg to differ as they have previously taken to social media to gush about his looks. Amid this milestone, one online user compared Foley to Affleck, writing, “He is much hotter than Ben Affleck.”

Foley’s physical appearance has been discussed over time. Months after this milestone, the television star shared a picture of himself half-naked on Instagram. A follower commented, “You’re like a real life Ken doll.”

A year later, one social media user penned on X (formerly known as Twitter), “Scott Foley keeps getting more & more handsome ugh!!!!!!!!” alongside a string of heart eye emojis.

Meanwhile, in October 2017, Foley shared an up-close photo of himself on set. This captured the attention of one follower who wrote, “So hot.”

In October 2018, Foley posted a selfie shot while in Prague on Instagram. One person commented, “Handsome!” Another exclaimed, “OMG…What a MAN!!!” Meanwhile, one Instagram follower complemented Foley’s facial features, penning, “You’ve got a cute face, man!”

Three years later, someone commented on Garner’s divorce from Foley. “She should have stayed with Scott. They were a good match. It wasn’t forced. Genuine good wholesome couple,” the person expressed.

Life post-divorce for Foley has been successful. He, his wife, and their kids relocated to Prague in the Czech Republic in 2018.

The family moved due to Foley’s work obligations. His spy thriller series, “Whiskey Cavalier” was picked up by ABC for the 2018-19 TV season which had to be filmed in Prague.

Of the move, Foley expressed he and the mother of his children were excited about their new adventure. “There’s something great about picking up and trying something new, at least for a year or two,” said the star.

A year after moving to a foreign country, Foley shared an update with his Instagram followers. He said he was proud of his children for being able to adjust to their move to Prague. “They are what gets me out of bed in the morning and the reason I work so hard. I. Am. Blessed,” he said.

Foley and Domińczyk have been together for more than 20 years. In July 2021, the actress expressed gratitude to her husband on Instagram as she celebrated her 41st birthday.

“From my 24th to my 41st you always make it magic @scottkfoley18bdays together… #grateful #beautifullife #likeafinewine #thisis41 #thankyou,” Domińczyk captioned her post.

The couple shares three kids together. Their eldest child is daughter Malina followed by their oldest son, Keller. Foley and Domińczyk’s third child Konrad was born in 2014.

Scott Foley’s life post-divorce has seen both personal happiness and professional success. Meanwhile, Garner’s subsequent relationships and family life reflect her resilience and continued belief in love, despite past heartaches. Together, the exes’ lives highlight the personal growth and enduring public interest that define their lives.