JOHN KRASINSKI

Since making his name as Jim in The Office, he’s built on his nice-guy image to become a creative multi-hyphenate, action hero and Hollywood star. As he releases his latest directorial effort, A Quiet Place Part II, the self-deprecating John Krasinski tells Total Film that the key to his success is being a team player and knowing ‘how the sausage is made’...

- JANE CROWTHER

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 installment, 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