Jennifer Garner and boyfriend John Miller seen for first time in a YEAR as they look loved-up on romantic date

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Jennifer Garner and her boyfriend John Miller made a surprise appearance on Sunday in what marked their first public sighting as a couple in just over a year.

Garner, 54, beamed while putting on a loving display with Miller as they enjoyed a date night at a restaurant in Santa Monica, California, in photos obtained by the Daily Mail.

The couple's status had been in question in recent months, as they had last been spotted out to a public establishment in July 2025, and their last sighting in general was in December of last year.

But things appeared to be better than ever between the lovebirds, who both smiled while taking a stroll, when they were spotted on Sunday evening.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Garner's representatives for comment but has yet to receive a response.

Garner's vibrant presence was a striking contrast to the somber note she sounded last month, when she revealed that she and her ex-husband Ben Affleck caused so much publicity when they stepped out in public that they were asked to stop attending their children's soccer practices.

Jennifer Garner and her boyfriend John Miller made a surprise appearance on Sunday in what marked their first public sighting as a couple in just over a year

Garner, 54, beamed while putting on a loving display with Miller as they enjoyed a date night at a restaurant in Santa Monica, California, in photos obtained by the Daily Mail

The couple's status had been in question in recent months, as they had last been spotted out to a public establishment in July 2025, and their last sighting in general was in December of last year

The actress was dressed casually for her date in a light-gray sweatshirt that she paired with cropped white jeans and matching white trainers.

The age-defying beauty wore her long brunette locks pulled back from her face and cascading down her shoulders as she gazed affectionately at her boyfriend.

For his part, Miller looked dashing in an untucked olive button-up shirt with his sleeves rolled up and a pair of acid-wash jeans with well-worn brown leather Chelsea boots.

At one point on the couple's stroll, Garner — who alternated between keeping her hands behind her back and putting her left hand in her pocket — affectionately placed a hand on her partner's back as they walked toward the upscale Italian restaurant Fia.

The 13 Going On 30 star first began dating the CaliGroup CEO in 2018, three years after her separation from her ex-husband Ben Affleck, with whom she shares three children: Violet, 20; Fin, 17; and Samuel, 13.

Though Garner and Miller briefly split in 2020, they reportedly reunited the following year and have largely kept their relationship out of the spotlight ever since.

Despite rumors that she and Affleck were growing close again in the wake of his divorce from Jennifer Lopez, Garner and Miller appeared to be going stronger than ever last year, especially after they were photographed sharing a kiss in April 2025.

Rumors had been swirling that Miller had moved in with his movie-star girlfriend, and he poured fuel on the fire when he was spotted outside her mansion in May of last year.

The actress was dressed casually for her date in a light-gray sweatshirt that she paired with cropped white jeans and matching white trainers

The age-defying beauty wore her long brunette locks pulled back from her face and cascading down her shoulders as she gazed affectionately at her boyfriend

For his part, Miller looked dashing in an untucked olive button-up shirt with his sleeves rolled up and a pair of acid-wash jeans with well-worn brown leather Chelsea boots

'John is basically living with Jennifer,' a source told UsWeekly in May 2025, noting it was only 'part time.'

The publication also claimed he moved out of his Los Angeles home after the wildfires ravaged several neighborhoods in the Southern California city in January 2025.

'He has an office in LA and splits his time between staying there and at Jennifer’s home,' the source said.

The Daily Mail confirmed in mid-March of last year that Garner and Miller were still going strong, with a source spotting them looking cozy on a date night.

The couple was seen 'holding hands and kissing' and being 'very cute with one another' as they strolled through the Brentwood Country Mart in Los Angeles.

The PDA-filled outing took place in the evening, according to the eyewitness.

'They are still going strong and appear to be doing really well,' the source shared.

'They looked happy and at ease, like a married couple that is thriving. They laughed and smiled at each other. Very cute.'

The 13 Going On 30 star first began dating the CaliGroup CEO in 2018, three years after her separation from her ex-husband Ben Affleck

Though Garner and Miller briefly split in 2020, they reportedly reunited the following year and have largely kept their relationship out of the spotlight ever since

The insider added that both were dressed down for the casual date. 'She had no makeup on, her hair down. He wore a coat and jeans.'

'There was a lot of affection between them,' the source continued. 'They held hands and kissed — just a very normal couple with no Hollywood weirdness.'

However, Garner and Miller suddenly dropped off the radar following their last public outing in July 2025, and they weren't seen again until December, when they were seen during a brief rendezvous to exchange Christmas gifts while Jennifer was preparing her family's bigger celebration.

Miller, a Stanford Law School graduate, now serves as chairman and CEO of CaliGroup, a tech conglomerate that not only owns the CaliBurger restaurant chain but also invests in innovative ventures in robotics and artificial intelligence.

He also heads CaliGroup’s portfolio company, PopID, which focuses on facial recognition payment systems.

Despite his impressive resume, Miller maintains a low public profile and rarely seeks the spotlight.

Outside of his business ventures, he remains devoted to co-parenting his two children with ex-wife Caroline Campbell, a celebrated violinist who has performed with renowned artists like Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, and Sting.

The former couple married in 2005 and divorced in 2011, but are said to maintain a cordial relationship for the sake of their kids.

Rumors had been swirling that Miller had moved in with his movie-star girlfriend , and he poured fuel on the fire when he was spotted outside her mansion in May of last year, but they hadn't been pictured together at all since December; Miller pictured in 2018

Garner is pictured with her ex-husband Ben Affleck in 2014, the year before they separated. They share three children: Violet, 20; Fin, 17; and Samuel, 13

While Garner's life continues to play out in the public eye, Miller seems happy to stay behind the scenes, giving her a steady, drama-free presence away from all the Hollywood noise.

Last month, Garner gave a rare look behind the scenes at how her and her ex-husband's fame has complicated their family life.

'If I went through a yellow light, 15 cars would go through the red behind me,' Garner recalled on Evan Ross Katz's Shut Up Evan podcast. 'They would drive up onto people’s lawns, even on a hillside.'

The Alias alumna added, 'We were trying to have our little one play soccer, and the association asked us to stop because there were 20 cars coming. So it wasn’t just about us. It was just an industry that had gotten out of control.'

She went on to muse on the incessant presence of photographers.

'If you show up and you’re trying to get into the pediatrician and you have a sick kid on your shoulder and you’re scared and you can’t get into the door because you’re blocked by photographers, there’s something wrong with that, and the kids are paying the price,' Garner said.

The screen star pointed out a sense of ambivalence as she recognized the privileged lifestyle her career has offered.

'It felt like "poor little me, my poor little kids who have everything in the world," but it was a danger to everyone around us,' she said.

Last month, Garner gave a rare look behind the scenes at how her and her ex-husband's fame has complicated their family life; pictured in February

Last month, Garner made rare comments praising Affleck. Amid the success of her Hollywood career, Garner said she 'absolutely' 'got caught up' in motherhood, but described her ex as a 'great partner' eight years after their divorce was finalized

Katz asked Garner what the current climate is like between her and the relentless shutterbugs.

She said there are two photographers who have been assigned to follow her for over 20 years, and explained their 'odd' dynamic.

'I have a very interesting relationship with my main guy,' she opened up.

'I mean, I've done anything to ask him to leave. And at the same time, we have an odd respect for each other. I don't know... we've had some really real life moments together.'

Garner recalled, 'I was followed by someone who, for whatever reason, I thought was going to hurt me, and I ran to him because I knew him and trusted him, and I knew that he and I would be okay.'

'Like, there’s kind of a Stockholm syndrome thing,' she explained. 'And at the same time, I’ve called the cops on him a million times and been like, "Can you please just give me a walk around the block with my kids and my dog?"'

Earlier this month, the Houston, Texas, native made rare comments praising Affleck.

Amid the success of her Hollywood career, Garner said she 'absolutely' 'got caught up' in motherhood, but described her ex as a 'great partner,' eight years after their divorce was finalized.

The subject arose as she was asked by Entertainment Weekly about 'the minutiae of raising a family and working.'

'But my kids are a little bigger [now]. Their dad has become this incredible co-parent,' she gushed about her ex.

She added elsewhere in the interview: 'When [my kids] were younger, I wouldn’t have done a couple of weeks away without taking them with me. Now they’re in high school. You can’t really do that anymore. But they can stay with their dad. He’s wonderful. He takes care of them. He’s a great partner in that way. And that’s very freeing.'