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John Krasinski always tried to keep it real.

Sure, fans may know him as a joke-loving, smitten newspaper salesman, or a dedicated former Marine turned CIA agent, or a devoted family man who sacrifices himself for love, but the 45-year-old actor prefers to just be a husband and a father who makes documentaries with his children and enjoys bedtime stories.

Krasinski, who lives in Brooklyn with his wife of 14 years, actress Emily Blunt, 41, and their daughters Hazel, 10, and Violet, 8, remembers a moment a few years ago when he accompanied his older daughter to school. “This guy said, ‘John? Out of The office? Oh my God, it's so good to see you!' And he walked away,” says the actor. “And Hazel said, 'So you're working with this guy?' I said, “No.” And she said, “Why are you lying to me?” He said he knew you from the office.' ”

While the actor admitted it was a challenge to explain the truth, he “just thought, 'Wow, what an incredible head trip this is.'” And she hadn't seen the show. I think in their eyes I was an accountant,” he adds with a laugh. “It’s a pretty wild thing for them to process.”

Krasinski may have a little more explaining to do after being named PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive. Loved for his nine-year role as Jim Halpert on the hit series The officeHe co-wrote, directed and starred alongside Blunt in the 2018 thriller A quiet place. The enormous success spawned two sequels, while Krasinski also championed Michael Bay's film 13 hours and stayed in fighting shape to portray the titular Jack Ryan for four seasons in the popular Prime Video series, which is now set to be made into a film.

With this year's film IFin which he starred, 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. Nevertheless, the transition required a bit of sensitivity.

“I had to pitch the studio about 54 times [for A Quiet Place] before they said yes,” jokes Krasinski, who next stars alongside Natalie Portman in the action heist film Fountain of youth. “I'm pretty sure someone said, 'Sorry, is Jim coming out?' The office Are you going to direct this?' And I said, 'Oh, it's John, but we'll manage.' It's fine.' ”

Krasinski grew up with his two brothers in a suburb of Boston and made his first acting attempt with the role of Daddy Warbucks in a sixth grade production of ” Annie. But it wasn't until he enrolled in the National Theater Institute while studying at 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 as a career,” says the actor, who originally wanted to be a teacher after being “blown away” by Robin Williams Society of 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 changing 14 weeks of my life,” he adds. “It grabbed my heart and soul and I immediately jumped in and moved to New York to become an actor.

These days, Krasinski makes his own decisions and values ​​the support system and life he has 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'm so happy to be able to go through all of this with her.” Not that his new title will change anything: “I think it will make me do it more Chores,” he jokes. “After this comes out, she'll be like, 'Okay, that means you're really going to deserve it here at home.' ”

What were your first thoughts when you heard you were going to get the crown?
Just instant blackout. Zero thoughts. Except maybe I'm getting screwed. I don't usually wake up like this and think, “Is this the day I'm going to be 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 if Emily knows, how did she react?
I shouldn't tell anyone? Oh my god, this is going badly right from the start. I told Emily and she was very excited. It was a great pleasure to tell her.

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

Who do you think will give you the hardest life?
I think my brothers will probably be wondering for years to come how this is possible. Luckily, we're starting right away with Thanksgiving, so we can jump right in and talk about it.

What was it like for you growing up as a child?
I guess I was a pretty imaginative kid. I've always lived in some kind of world, be it a pirate world or a crazy adventure. Usually Indiana Jones, something by Steven Spielberg. I was friends with ET and picked this up [Raiders of the Lost Ark] Idol and things like that basically ages 4 to 45.

How about high school?
I played sports, I was in a band, I played the trumpet. I think I tried to just be a guy who had 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, a lot of people wrote things like, “Thank you for helping me get through my breakup” or “You're a great shoulder to cry on.” I really was there for moral support, not so much in a romantic way.

When did you find your confidence?
Probably college. I mean, that was the most mind-expanding experience of my life. No medication necessary. I was lucky enough to attend a great school and receive a great education. But the education for me was really about finding these life markers of people that brought me into the world of art, theater and music.

You met Emily for the first time 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 introduced us, across a restaurant room, and I went up to shake her hand. And as soon as I did, I just knew.

What do you love most about being a girls dad?
Oh man, how much you're learning. There is just an incredible wealth of curiosity, feelings and questions that come from someone of the opposite sex. If you ask me [for] From a guy's perspective, it's pretty fun because I'm actually the only guy in our family, including our dog.

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

What does a typical day off mean to you?
I usually take the kids to school, do a quick workout, and then try to find something exciting to do in the city. I was at MoMA just a few days ago and then at a French bistro. I just try to experience everything 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 of these in my pocket. Not just to be a great party trick, but also for myself.

Do you have any stupid human tricks?
Aside from weird voices I make for my kids as stuffed animals, I don't think so. I give them an Elmo-like voice. And no, I won't do it in front of the camera.

What is your worst habit?
I'll probably jog my leg. I'm like a guy when I sit at a table [he jogs his knee up and down]. And that's fun, right? That doesn't make you nervous. Emily told me I do this a lot and it still hasn't stopped.

You talked about Chris Evans' win Captain America about 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 guy. Oddly enough, I've never been so envious because I think my life was in many ways similar to winning a huge radio contest. You just have to take it as it comes. And I really believe that every role is meant for someone – that 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 come from? The office would it do now? I'm probably just getting ready for bed and reading stories. I feel like they are very good parents. But am I losing track? Are these children around 80 now?

How would you describe your own life?
Nice. That's it really. It's a phenomenal thing to be part of this family and to be a father. It completely changed my life.