KOOL TV BABE OF THE WEEK: "ALIAS"s JENNIFER GARNER

The gorgeous Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow in ALIAS. Image: ABC TV.

Re-vitalizing the action adventure series for the small screen in 2001, with more than a little bit of science fiction creeping into it along the way, LOST creator and modern 2011 onwards STAR TREK movie series visionary J.J. Abrams brought us ALIAS-a modern and hip new look at the world of the spy and the spy masters, in which young recruit Sydney Bristow (the lovely Jennifer Garner, in a lead role, that, though it launched her into a film career, hasn't been bettered), one of the the best and most deadly efficient members of the black-ops organisation she believes is SD-6, tries to maintain a not always easy balance between her personal and professional life, and her equally important relationships with friends and family. But things soon take a turn for the worse when her fiance is murdered and she finds her life turned upside down with the news that her shadowy employers are not whom they appear to be...

Packed with more twists and turns over five seasons than a game of Mousetrap!, alongside a fresh and exciting visual style that quickly caught the viewers imaginations and loyalties, created by a team assembled by Abrams that would go onto further great things alongside him (including writers Bob Kurtzman and Rocberto Orci, directors Jack Bender and Fred Toye, and music composer Michael Giacchino), and giving us great main/guest casts the likes of LOST's Terry O'Quinn, HEROES Greg Grunberg and David Anders, as well as major league film stars to be Bradley Cooper (of THE HANGOVER), Melissa George (who turns up in the show from Season Three onwards) and Lena Olin (a former Russian spy who turns out to be Sydney's mom, Irina Derevko), alongside memorable cult appearances from Rutger Hauer, David Carradine, Quentin Tarantino, Faye Dunaway and even 007 himself- Sir Roger Moore!, ALIAS was a sure fire, must-watch hit for ABC TV. But it wouldn't have worked anywhere near as well it did without the great central casting of Garner, who brought a youthful sensitivity and charm to the role of Sydney but whom also proved absolutely superb and highly accomplished within the shows physical aspects, looking sensational and believable in its many spectacular fight and stunt sequences. If Garner hadn't been so enthusiastic and pioneering in all these areas, I doubt today's action/adventure fans would be seeing the kinds of shows like NIKITA, COVERT AFFAIRS and the re-imagined CHARLIE'S ANGELS that they're enjoying today.

Beyond ALIAS, Texas born Garner would go on to play further types of sassy and physical heroines, such as the revenge fuelled Elektra in the MARVEL comics DAREDEVIL film adaptation, and playing the same character in her own starring vehicle, ELEKTRA (stylishly directed by THE X-FILES top visualist, Rob Bowman), as well as the faced paced Iraq set action/drama THE KINGDOM. She would also go on to prove herself with a likable talent for comedy including roles in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, 13 GOING ON 30 and, more recently, in the quirky sleeper hit JUNO.

Currently enjoying some family time with her husband, actor/director Ben Affleck, and now expecting a third child, we expect Miss Garner's eventual return to the film and TV world will continue to be as diverse and intriguing as it's previously been.