Jennifer Garner’s new Peacock series The Five Star Weekend puts her in a role that feels close to one of her real-life love languages, feeding people.
Entertainment Weekly reported that Garner plays Hollis Shaw, a food influencer and cookbook author whose life changes after loss and a carefully planned getaway with friends.
The series, based on Elin Hilderbrand’s 2023 novel, also stars Gemma Chan, Regina Hall, D’Arcy Carden and Chloë Sevigny.
Garner also executive produces the show, giving the project a natural connection to the home-cooking persona she has built through her own social media series.
Garner Said Hollis Is More Controlled Than She Is
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Garner told EW that Hollis is “more tightly wound” than she is, even though both women understand cooking as a way to care for others. In the series, Hollis turns baking and family meals into a public career after realizing during the pandemic that food is central to how she shows love.
Garner described her own cooking as “mom food,” listing simple dishes such as roast chicken, mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, roasted broccoli and salad.
The Nantucket Shoot Became a Happy Surprise
Garner said filming on Nantucket with the cast became one of the happiest production experiences she has had. The team spent a month on the island after shooting part of the series in Los Angeles, and she said the cast fell for the beaches, restaurants and local atmosphere.
She also named several favorite places, including CRU, Something Natural, Handlebar Café, Millie’s and Cisco Brewers. People reported that director Jennifer Morrison, who directed four of the eight episodes, also described Nantucket as a major part of the show’s identity rather than a simple backdrop.
The Show Centers Complicated Female Friendships
Garner said one of the biggest draws was getting to work with four women, something she described as a first for her. She praised the writing for giving each woman a full arc, including ambition, flaws, generosity and pettiness. The story follows Hollis as she invites friends from different stages of her life to her Nantucket home after a personal loss.
Garner also spoke openly about wanting to play women her own age. She said she does not want to pretend she is not in her 50s, because life does not stop at that stage.
All eight episodes of The Five Star Weekend are streaming on Peacock.