John Krasinski has always tried to keep it real.

Sure, fans may know him as a wisecracking, lovelorn paper salesman, or an intense former Marine turned CIA agent, or a devoted family man who sacrifices himself for love, but the actor, 45, prefers to just be a husband and father to be. , who makes documentaries and enjoys bedtime stories with his children.

Krasinski, who lives in Brooklyn with his wife of 14 years, actress Emily Blunt, 41, and their daughters Hazel, 10, and Violet, 8, recalls a moment a few years ago when he was taking his eldest daughter to school. “This guy said, ‘John? By The office? Oh my God, it’s so good to see you!’ And he walked away,” says the actor. “And Hazel said, ‘So you work with that guy?’ I said, ‘No.’ And she said, ‘Why are you lying to me? He said he knows you from the office.’ ”

Admitting that it was a bit of a challenge to explain the truth, the actor just thought, “Wow, what an incredible trip that is.” And she hadn’t seen the show. I think in her eyes I was an accountant,” he adds, laughing. “It’s pretty wild for them to process.”

Krasinski may have a bit more explaining to do now that he’s been named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive. Beloved for his nine-year role as Jim Halpert on the hit series The officehe wrote, directed and co-starred with Blunt in the 2018 thriller A quiet place. The enormous success led to two sequels, while Krasinski also signed on for Michael Bay’s 1 p.m and stayed in fighting shape to play the titular Jack Ryan for four seasons on the hit Prime Video series, which is now set to become a movie.

With this year’s film IFwhich he starred in, wrote, produced and directed as a kind of love story for his girls, the actor cemented his status as one of Hollywood’s top filmmakers. Still, the transition took some finesse.

“I had to pitch the studio 54 times (for A quiet place) before they said yes,” jokes Krasinski, who next stars in the action-heist film opposite Natalie Portman Fountain of Youth. “I’m pretty sure someone said, ‘Sorry, that’s where Jim is from The office are you going to direct this?’ And I said, ‘Oh, it’s John, but we’ll get there. It’s fine.’ ”

Krasinski grew up in a Boston suburb with his two brothers and took his first stab at acting, playing Daddy Warbucks in a sixth-grade production of Annie. But it wasn’t until he enrolled at the National Theater Institute while attending Brown University that he discovered his true passion.

“You know, I had so much fun, but it was never something I thought I would do professionally,” says the actor, who initially planned to become a teacher after being “blown away” by Robin Williams in Association for Dead Poets. “I went to theater school mainly out of laziness because I had to catch up on a semester. And it was one of the most transformative fourteen weeks of my life,” he adds. “It grabbed my heart and soul, and I jumped right in and moved to New York to become an actor.”

Today, Krasinski chooses himself and appreciates the support system and life he built with Blunt. “It’s that beautiful thing: when you’re married to someone, you’re constantly learning and changing and evolving,” he says. “And I feel so lucky to be able to experience all of this with her.” Not that his new title will change anything: “I think I’ll get around to it more household chores,” he jokes. “If this comes out, she’ll say, ‘Okay, that means you’re really going to earn it here at home.’ ”

What were your first thoughts when you heard you were going to get the crown?
Just an instant blackout. Zero thoughts. Except maybe I’m being pranked. That’s not how I usually wake up and think, “Is this the day I’m asked to be the sexiest man alive?” And yet it was the day you did it. You really raised the bar for me.

I know you haven’t told anyone, but assuming Emily knows, how did she react?
Can’t I tell anyone? Oh my God, this is going bad right away. I told Emily and she was very excited. There was a lot of joy involved when I told her.

She once said that if you had the cover, she would wallpaper it all over the house.
Did she say that? Do we have that on camera? Because that looks like a binding contract, I guess. My kids will love that; it won’t be weird at all.

Who do you think will give you the hardest time?
I think my brothers will probably wonder for years to come how this is possible. Luckily, we’re heading straight into Thanksgiving so we can talk about it right away.

What were you like growing up?
I think I was quite an imaginative child. I always lived in some kind of world, whether it was pirates or some crazy adventure. Mostly Indiana Jones, anything by Steven Spielberg. I was friends with ET and grabbed the (Raiders of the Lost Ark) idol and stuff like that, basically from ages 4 to 45.

What about high school?
I played sports, I was in a band, I played the trumpet. I guess I was just trying to be a guy having fun. I had friends in many different groups.

Were you popular with the ladies?
No, I mean, if you look back at my high school yearbook, I think a lot of people wrote things like “Thank you for helping me through my breakup” or “You’re a great shoulder to cry on.” ‘ I was really there for moral support, not so much in a romantic way.

When did you find your self-confidence?
Probably college. I mean, that was the most mind-blowing experience of my life. No medications required. I was fortunate to go to a great school and receive a great education. But the training for me was really about finding these life characteristics of people that brought me into the world of art, theater and music.

You first met Emily in 2008. When did you know she was the one?
The second time I met her? I don’t know what happened, but I remember someone introducing us, and it was across a room in a restaurant, and I walked over to shake her hand. And as soon as I did, I just knew.

What do you enjoy most about being a father to a girl?
Oh man, you learn a lot. You just have these incredible sources of curiosity, emotion, and questions that come from someone of the opposite sex. When they ask me (about) the guy perspective, it’s kind of fun because I’m basically the only guy in our family, including our dog.

Is there something you can do that will always embarrass them?
Dance. I’m terrible at it. I remember my phone turned on on the street one day and the song “I Turn My Camera On” by Spoon was on, and I started dancing. And Hazel said, “Oh my God, Dad, there are people on the street.”

What does a typical day off entail for you?
I usually drop the kids off at school, do a quick workout, and then try to find something exciting to do in town. I just went to MoMA a few days ago and then to a French bistro. I’m just trying to experience what this city has to offer.

Is there a hobby you would like to have?
I wish I could play the piano or guitar. I wish I had one in the bag. Not just to be a fun party trick, but also for myself.

Do you have any stupid human tricks?
Besides the weird voices I do for my kids as their stuffed animals, I don’t think so. I do an Elmo-like voice for them. And no, I’m not going to do it on camera.

What’s your worst habit?
Probably jogging my leg. I am like a man who, when I sit at a table (he moves his knee up and down). And this is fun, right? This doesn’t make you nervous. Emily told me I do that a lot, and it still hasn’t stopped.

You talked about Chris Evans winning Captain America above you. Do you regret the roles you passed on?
You know, I’ve never had that before. And it’s Chris Evans – look at the man. Strangely enough, I’ve never suffered from jealousy, because I think in many ways my life was like winning a giant radio contest. You just have to take it as it comes. And I truly believe that every role is meant for someone: if it’s meant for you, it’s for you, and if it’s not, then it’s for someone else.

Where do you think Jim and Pam are from? The office would it do now? Probably about to go to bed and read stories. I feel like they are very good parents. Although, have I lost track? Are those kids about 80 now?

How would you describe your own life?
Nice. That’s true. It is phenomenal to live in this family and to be a father. It has completely changed my life.