Why Jennifer Garner and John Miller are no longer hiding their romance

Early November, Jennifer Garner was spotted on a lunch date in Santa Monica with her boyfriend of five years, Johannes Molenaar. Garner – wearing a gray top, black skirt and black loafers – was unusually affectionate with the casually dressed entrepreneur, holding his hand as they chatted and headed to her car.

Since breaking up with Miller in 2018, Garner, 51, has kept their romance firmly under the radar. But in recent months, the actress has noticeably lowered her guard: In April, Miller attended the premiere of Garner’s series The last thing he told meand on November 17, she was photographed giving him a kiss after the couple said goodbye outside her home in Brentwood, California.

Garner is doing well across the board. Her latest film, Netflix’s Family switch – a holiday-themed body-swap comedy reminiscent of her hit 13 on the way to 30 – opens on November 30 and she has four other films in production. She and ex-husband am Affleck (with whom she shares children Violet, 18, Seraphina, 14, and Samuel, 11), are on fantastic terms and things with Miller are clearly going in the right direction.

Last May, Us reported that Miller gave Garner a diamond ring for her 50th birthday, and the couple spent the recent Thanksgiving weekend together in Montana. “Jen and John are in a great place,” the source said. “They used to do their best to keep a low profile, but they’ve both become very confident about their relationship and how it all worked out.”

Miller has brought a certain peace to Garner’s life. “Jen and John have a very special relationship,” said a second source. ‘After having so much from her [marriage with Affleck] When she is in the spotlight, she enjoys being with someone who is not a celebrity.” Like Garner, Miller is very accomplished career-wise — he’s the CEO of the CaliBurger restaurant chain and its parent company CaliGroup — but sources say he’s kept his feet on the ground as best he can.

Related: Jennifer Garner and John Miller: A Timeline of Their Relationship

Jennifer Garner’s romance with John Miller blossoms after a brief hiatus. The pair started dating in 2018, the same year Garner finalized her divorce from ex-husband Ben Affleck. The actors – who share children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel – ended their 10-year marriage in 2015. Miller, meanwhile, was still legally married to his ex-wife […]

“Despite all his success in business, John is very down to earth,” says the first source. “Part of John’s appeal to Jen is how humble he is – this is a man who doesn’t know how to sound selfish even if he tried.”

They are both family-oriented (Miller shares a son and a daughter with his ex-wife) and they share an appreciation for the simpler things in life. According to the first source, Miller “never had a problem” when Garner suggested meeting somewhere quiet for dates or cooking a meal at home instead of going to a fancy Hollywood restaurant.

Related: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s quotes on co-parenting and divorce

Friendly as always! Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have been co-parenting professionals since announcing their divorce in June 2015. The exes, who share Violet, Seraphina and Samuel, have not shied away from tackling their family life and close friendship. “Ben and Jen have immense love and respect for each other,” a source told Us Weekly exclusively […]

Garner sets the pace from the start. “John has been happy from day one to go with the flow and do things Jen’s way,” says the source, noting that he will occasionally surprise the star with idyllic getaways or double date nights with friends is organizing. “John is a romantic who loves making sweet gestures and spoiling Jen when she least expects it.”

According to the first source, people in Garner and Miller’s circles are confident that they will eventually tie the knot. “Jen and John want to take their time planning the details, as far as the type of ceremony they want, where they’ll live and whether or not they need a prenup,” the source says. “That will all happen, but on their own schedule.”

In June, an insider said Us Miller had rented a house a few miles away from Garner. While there were no immediate plans to move in together, the source said, Miller “wanted to be closer to his partner.”

For now they are completely satisfied. According to a third source, Miller is expected to attend the premiere of November 30 Family switch to support both Garner and his daughter, who plays a small role in the film. (In January, Us reported that Garner was planning to include one of Miller’s children in a movie of hers.) And the first source says they will spend Christmas at Garner’s home.

“The plan is to celebrate most of the holidays in LA this year,” the source said. “Jen joins the kids in decorating, baking and watching movies – all traditional things. John will of course also be present. He is a big hit with her family.”