Jennifer Garner, 54, has revealed that she retreated to the desert to cope after narrowly missing out on a role in the acclaimed NBC political drama "The West Wing." The actress shared her experience on the podcast "Aspire With Emma Grede," detailing how the setback preceded her breakthrough role in the Fox series "Alias."

Garner described the audition for "The West Wing" as a pivotal moment, stating she "wanted it so badly" and went through the testing process. Upon not securing the part, she journeyed to Palm Springs for "a couple of days" alone. This period marked her first time in the city by herself, where she engaged in emotional recuperation.

Earlier this year, Garner had specified that she auditioned for the character of Ainsley Hayes, a role that ultimately went to Emily Procter. Garner expressed her admiration for "The West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin's writing, noting her appreciation for dense language and dialogue.

"I always think back to this audition for The West Wing," Garner said on the podcast. "It was for a new role and God, I wanted it so badly. And I got down and I tested for it."

She reflected on the nature of the entertainment industry, where resilience is a crucial trait amidst frequent rejection. "Do you know how many auditions or meetings I've gone on that I've gotten down to here, to here, and not gotten?" Garner asked. "And then you do get one and you take it. It's like this big thing and you think, 'Oh great, this is going to be amazing.' You get it and you sell it with everything you have and it just lies there on the floor."

Garner noted that "like two weeks later," the opportunity for "Alias" emerged. She pondered the idea that rejection might serve as a form of protection, stating, "Rejection is God's protection? Whatever that is, I'm all for that. Let's believe that, you know? Let's go with that."

Garner starred as Sydney Bristow in "Alias" for its entire five-season run on ABC from 2001 to 2006. The series also featured Ron Rifkin, Carl Lumbly, and Bradley Cooper.

In the same interview, Garner also discussed the career challenges she faced after her 2015 separation from Ben Affleck. She explained that after stepping back from roles to focus on her family, she experienced a period of panic about her future in the industry. "I panicked when I was first out of my marriage and realized I had taken such a step back in my work, and suddenly I realized, like, 'I don't know how long I'll be able to work,'" Garner explained.

She and her manager adopted a strategic approach to balance her career and parental responsibilities, prioritizing roles that allowed her to work in Los Angeles and avoid extended absences. "I said, 'I can work in Los Angeles. I can't leave these kids for six months at a time,'" she said. "I would love to. I love going on location. That is not this time in my career."

Garner is currently appearing in the Peacock series "The Five Star Weekend."