JOHN KRASINSKI
YOUR EGO HAS TO BE CHECKED AT THE DOOR – NOT BECAUSE IT’S A HALLMARK CARD, BUT BECAUSE IT’S REALITY
It’s always gratifying to discover the impression we have of well-known people matches up to reality. John Krasinski rose to fame playing the sweet but smart Jim Halpert during nine seasons of the US version of The Office and – via marriage to fellow actor Emily Blunt, friendships with numerous A-listers and his affable, enthusiastic public persona – hasn’t shaken public perception that he’s a ‘nice guy’. That notion was cemented further by his starring role as a hero dad in 2018’s A Quiet Place; his self-penned, self-directed horror that he made for $17m and reaped a staggering $341m at the box office. When Total Film meets him on set of his second instalment, he’s hugely welcoming (did we mention he’s 6’3”?), charming, courteous and pragmatic – quick to offer his inscribed director’s chair and take a pop at himself when talking about his project. And when we catch up with him months later for two chats in New York, he recalls entire conversations we had months before and uses your name like an old friend. See? Nice.
Now 40 (he raised money for charity via social media to celebrate the big birthday, natch), Krasinski is a hardworking actor, writer, director and producer with a proven track record. His huge success with A Quiet Place adds to his impressive resume, which takes in screenwriting with Matt Damon on Promised Land, exec-producing Manchester By The Sea, creating TV show Lip Sync Battle (yep, that was his concept), and starring as the latest incarnation of Jack Ryan. Not bad for a Boston kid who hadn’t considered acting seriously until his time as a student at Brown University and who waited numerous tables in NY while he tried to catch a break. But Krasinski’s healthy self-awareness and clear-eyed world-view has served him well. It was exactly what producers were looking for when casting Jim, and it’s what appears to have protected him from delusions of grandeur in a narcissistic industry. “You have to be aware of all the things that can go wrong so that you can pivot and adjust and do better,” he says of directing, but he might as well be talking about making a career in Hollywood.
His eagerness to learn and develop has allowed him, a transformation he typically joked about. “I’ve been lucky enough to have these very special moments in the evolution of my filmmaking career,” he says when reflecting on his journey from series regular to franchise creator, flashing a trademark delighted smile. “When a story really appeals to me, when the idea feels like it’s a good enough idea to go forward with, I take a swing.”
