Before starring in an Emmy-winning television series, actor John Krasinski would rummage through the woods or create a shelter beneath his parents’ house in Newton.

“I always lived in a different world, whether it was pirates or some crazy adventure,” Krasinski, who was named “People’s 2024 Sexiest Man Alive” on Tuesday, November 11, told the outlet.

“I was quite an imaginative child. I think I was in my head a lot,” the 45-year-old said. “I just tried new things.”

During his interview with People, Krasinski reflected on his upbringing in Massachusetts and how his time at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island made him want to become an actor.

Krasinski attended Newton South High School and graduated in 1997 with his co-star on The Office, BJ Novak.

He played sports and was in a band. Krasinski said he went through high school “just trying to be a guy who has fun,” adding that he made friends in different groups.

“When we were in a John Hughes movie, I was among a lot of groups and I wasn’t a star in any of them,” he said. “I was trying things out. I found my way into what I liked.

If someone were to look at Krasinski’s high school yearbook, they would find phrases like “thank you for helping me through my breakup” or “you’re a great shoulder to cry on,” the actor told People.

“I was really there for moral support for the ladies, not so much in a romantic way.”

Whether it was sports, music or art, Krasinski’s interests made him want to become a teacher. He planned to study English and postponed his first semester of college to teach English in Costa Rica, according to his IMDb biography. He then studied English at Brown University.

For someone who claims to have never listened to music that wasn’t on the radio or seen a movie that wasn’t in theaters, Krasinski said his college years were “the most mind-expanding experience of my life.” No medication needed.”

“I was fortunate enough to go to a great school and get a great education, but the education for me was really about finding these life traits of people that brought me into the world of art or theater or music.”

In his freshman year, Krasinski asked his friends to give him an album and movie recommendation every week — and they did. He said it was “the best education” he could have asked for.

Krasinski had revealed that as a child he was a big fan of Steven Spielberg’s work, especially ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘ET’. However, his knowledge of films expanded after he was introduced to different film styles. He even revealed the one movie that made him want to act.

“I was blown away by the ‘Dead Poets’ Society,’” Krasinski told People. “As soon as Robin Williams started making kids stand on desks, I thought, ‘I want to make kids stand on desks.’”

Because of this, Krasinski abandoned his educational aspirations when he graduated from Brown in 2001. He went on to study at the Eugene O’Neill National Theater Institute in Waterford, Connecticut before making his big screen debut in 2002.

Krasinski would go on to play the role of “Jim Halpert” on “The Office” in 2005. He retained the lead role until the show’s end in 2013.

His other major credits include ‘Jarhead’, ‘The Holiday’, ‘Shrek the Third’, ‘License to Wed’, ‘Leatherheads’, ‘Away We Go’, ‘It’s Complicated’, ‘Something Borrowed’, ‘Promised Land,” “Monsters University,” “Aloha,” “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” and “The Hollars.”

He directed and starred in the comedy-drama films “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men” and the critically acclaimed horror film “A Quiet Place.”

Krasinski produced and starred in the Amazon Prime Video thriller series “Jack Ryan” from 2018 to 2023.

His production company, Sunday Night Productions, was founded in 2013 and co-created the reality show ‘Lip Sync Battle’. Krasinski received three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Structured Reality Program for the show.

The actor is married to English actress Emily Blunt, with whom he has two daughters.

“Basically just an instant blackout. No thoughts,” Krasinski told People about receiving the honor.

“Except maybe I’m being tricked. That’s not the way I 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 guys have really raised the bar for me,” he told the outlet.