Emmy-winning actress Julia Garner has caught fire debuting in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). She plays the role of Shalla-Bal, a new iteration of the iconic Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. As we’re fresh off the heels of its release, many fans are looking into her background, personal life, and filmography.
Prior to her joining the MCU, she has already been considered as one of Hollywood‘s fastest rising stars. Below are some quick facts about the star portraying the herald of Galactus.
About Julia Garner
Julia Garner was born on 1 February 1994 in The Bronx, New York. She attended Eagle Hill School in Greenwich, Connecticut and began acting lessons at age 15. In 2011, she made her film debut in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) as Sarah.
She earned critical acclaim with her portrayal as Ruth Langmore in the Netflix hit series Ozark (2017-2022). Her performance earned her three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Beyond Ozark, she’s also known for her role as real-life con artist Anna Sorokin/Delvey in another Netflix miniseries, Inventing Anna (2022). She also had other notable roles as Kimberly Breland in The Americans (2015-2018) and Terra Newell in Dirty John (2018-2019).
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By 2019, she’d marry Mark Foster, the frontman of indie pop band Foster the People. The couple met at the Sundance Film Festival, where Foster proposed later that year during a trip to Yellowstone.
Foster is best known for the band’s breakout hit ‘Pumped Up Kicks,‘ and has supported Garner throughout her acting career. He often joins her during red carpet events.
According to this report, her net worth is estimated to be $4 million as of August 2024. Julia Garner’s earnings mainly come from her television and film roles.
Her introduction into the MCU suggests that the figure will rise significantly. Marvel contracts often involve multiple film appearances with backend bonuses based on box office performance.
Rise To Fame and Other Film Credits
As mentioned, she became a household name thanks to her role as Ruth Langmore in Ozark. She starred opposite Jason Bateman and Laura Linney, where she earned three Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
Netflix
Her rise to fame was largely thanks to the streaming platform boom that came with Netflix. After Ozark, she would go on and play Anna Sorokin/Delvey in the limited series Inventing Anna. This solidified her status as a leading actress in high-profile streaming productions.
Other film credits include We Are What We Are (2013), Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014), and The Assistant (2019). Her roles cover genres like horror, action, and even slice of life, showcasing her versatility as a performer.
She’s also had roles in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), The Last Exorcism Part II (2013), and most recently, Wolf Man (2025). She also has an anticipated appearance in Weapons (2025), a supernatural mystery horror film set to release 8 August 2025.
Garner says that she pours love, rage, and secrets in every performance. Her portrayal of the Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four: First Steps further proves herself as a competent, versatile actress across different genres. However, at the time of writing, Marvel has yet to confirm her return to another film.