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| Garner on Assignment for CIA? Thu Aug 28, 1:15 PM ET By Josh Grossberg Jennifer Garner has been doing undercover work for the CIA on the tube for the past two seasons of Alias. Now the agency is recruiting her for a new assignment. The masterminds behind the spy organization wants Garner to moonlight as an ambassador for the CIA, tapping the Emmy-nominated actress to star in a new promotional video to woo would-be real-life Sydney Bristows to the agency. "It's not a commercial," Garner tells the Reporter. "It's a recruitment video [to entice] university graduate students." Getting Garner aboard would seem to be a no-brainer for the Company, which hopes audience's enthusiasm for the white-hot actress and Alias helps overcome the agency's often controversial image and convinces potential spooks to sign up. "We very much would like to continue our discussions with Miss Garner and possibly other cast members to work with us on a recruitment video," Chase Brandon, a film industry consultant for the CIA, says in the Reporter. "We feel that Miss Garner, both in character as agent Sydney Bristow, and as herself, embodies the intelligence, enthusiasm and dedication that we're looking for. Our continuing efforts to enlist the best and the brightest would be admirably served by having her support." According to Brandon, who worked with Alias producers and writers to accurately depict the CIA, the 31-year-old actress would appear in the beginning of the video and give a brief summary of what wannabes can expect in the daily life of the world's most sophisticated spy agency. "It talks about the nature of the work, the context and the qualities we're looking for," explains Brandon. "Her participation would add a human touch to the message we're trying to convey." No word yet on when Garner will pull double-duty and appear in the video. As far as Garner's standing within the CIA, Alias' sexy superspy has been a big hit with company regulars. "Miss Garner has a standing invitation to come by the agency, where she is guaranteed to meet a vast number of fans," adds Brandon. While Garner prepares for her new role with the feds, she is also busy hyping her day job. To that end, she and Alias costar and new beau Michael Vartan turned up with show producer J.J. Abrams and other cast members at a party previewing the new Alias videogame and DVD of the show's first season, both of which are due in stores next Tuesday. But, as USA Today reports, halfway through a Q&A with the press, Vartan started sweating profusely. The stricken actor politely begged off the stage and reportedly tumbled down the stairs in his rush to exit. Costar Victor Garber (news) ended up driving the 34-year-old Vartan home. Upon returning to the after-party, Garber reported that Vartan consumed "a bad piece of fish" but will be okay. Garner, who is in the middle of a divorce from former Felicity hunk Scott Foley, is plenty busy these days. Aside from CIA recruitment videos, she has several film projects in the works, including the comedies 13 Going on 30 and Happy Endings and a Daredevil spinoff focusing on her Elektra character. But Alias fans need not worry she'll pull a David Caruso and exit the ABC drama. Garner recently signed a lucrative contact extension that will see her kicking butt on the series through the 2007-08 television season. |
| posted 21 september 2003 6:09 p.m. central story #0033 |