John Krasinski has officially been named PEOPLE’s 2024 Sexiest Man Alive—a title he’s taking with a sense of humor and humility. When he first got the news, the 45-year-old actor was stunned. “Just an immediate blackout. Zero thoughts,” he tells the magazine in this week’s cover story. “I thought maybe I was being punked. That’s not exactly how I wake up, thinking, ‘Is today the day I’ll be asked to be Sexiest Man Alive?’ But hey, you guys did it, so I guess the bar’s been raised.”
Krasinski’s wife, actress Emily Blunt, was equally thrilled by the announcement. She’s even joked she’d wallpaper their entire home with the magazine cover. “Do we have that on camera? Because that’s like a binding contract, I think,” he quips. “My kids will love that—won’t be weird at all!”
Despite his heartthrob status, Krasinski insists he’s just a husband and dad who loves Netflix documentaries and bedtime stories. He shares a home in Brooklyn with Blunt, 41, and their daughters, Hazel, 10, and Violet, 8. Known for his nine-year role as Jim Halpert on The Office, Krasinski has since proven himself as a Hollywood powerhouse. He co-wrote, directed, and starred alongside Blunt in the 2018 thriller A Quiet Place, which led to two sequels. He also transformed himself physically for Michael Bay’s 13 Hours and then took on the role of Jack Ryan in Prime Video’s hit series, now expanding to a feature film.
This year, Krasinski starred in, wrote, produced, and directed the film IF, further establishing his status as a multi-talented filmmaker. He recalls the challenges of moving from comedy to directing: “I had to pitch the studio like 54 times for A Quiet Place before they said yes,” he jokes. “Someone even asked, ‘Wait, is Jim from The Office really going to direct this?’ And I said, ‘Well, it’s John, but we’ll get there.’”
These days, Krasinski is grateful for the journey he’s on with Blunt. “It’s that beautiful thing where, when you’re married, you’re constantly learning, changing, and evolving. I’m so lucky to go through all that with her,” he says.
So, what does the Sexiest Man Alive title mean for his daily life? Not much, according to Krasinski. “I think it just means I’ll be doing more household chores,” he laughs. “Emily will probably say, ‘All right, now you’ve got to really earn it here at home.’”
