Jennifer Garner Plans Low-Key 37th Birthday

04/17/2009 at 08:00 PM EDT

No need to bust out the noisemakers for Jennifer Garner's birthday this year.

The Ghost of Girlfriends Past star, who turns 37 Friday, says she doesn't need a big celebration to make her big day special.

"You know, this year it just doesn't [require a big party]," she said while promoting her upcoming movie, which costars Matthew McConaughey. "Life is full."

The actress, who has two children with Ben Affleck, says her attitude toward her birthday is different from years past.

"Normally, I am the person that says, 'You know my birthday is in three weeks, just so you know,' " she told reporters. "But, today, I figured you guys would be pretty on top of that. It's a good one [and] I am going to celebrate it right here with you … That's about as far as I've gotten."
– Jed Dreben and Marla Lehner