Rise to Fame
Ruth Langmore wasn't written to carry Ozark. She was supposed to be background texture in a Bateman crime show. Within a season, the producers realized she'd outgrown the role they'd written for her. Garner spent years taking bit parts and small TV roles before landing the Missouri crime drama at 23. Three Emmys later, she's the definitive proof that the best supporting performances aren't really supporting at all.
In the Spotlight
She's in the MCU now, playing the Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is an aggressive pivot from Missouri crime drama. She's also attached to the Madonna biopic (she plays Madonna), a FTX miniseries where she plays Caroline Ellison, and Weapons from the Barbarian director. Whether she translates to movie stardom is still an open question, but the industry clearly thinks she can carry more than a Netflix drama.
Side Notes
During the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, she flew to France to study clown performance under Philippe Gaulier, which is either the most dedicated use of a work stoppage or evidence she genuinely can't stop preparing. Her mother was a comedian on Israel's version of Saturday Night Live, she had epilepsy and learning disabilities as a child, and she studied psychology in college. She hasn't stopped preparing since.