John Krasinski never feared being a parent — until he became one.
“You don’t want to screw it up,” the actor, who shares daughters Hazel, 2, and Violet, 2 months, with wife Emily Blunt, reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly. “You start thinking, Do I have the world figured out enough?”
In The Hollars, his character returns home to his dysfunctional family and panics about his own impending fatherhood. “The anticipation is scary, whether you’re prepared or not,” says Krasinski, who also directed the dramedy (out August 26). “It’s gone on to be the best experience of my life! Through my kids, I get to experience the world all over again.”
The Massachusetts native, 36, shares fatherly wisdom with Us.
Us Weekly: What was so special about this film that you just had to direct it?
John Krasinski: The reason I signed on as an actor was also the reason I wanted to direct it. Films like this don’t get made much anymore. This is a very honest, emotional, feel-good movie. There’s a lot out there with antiheroes and dark worlds. But it’s OK to tell a story as important as family. It feels like a real family that you can believe in and, most importantly, connect to.
Us: Did you have any sleepless nights while pulling two jobs on set?
JK: When you choose to direct, it’s a huge sacrifice to your family and your time. I didn’t foresee going to bed any earlier than 3 in the morning because there’s always something to be done. It’s super exciting, but I think that’s why people only direct movies every once in a while. [Laughs.]
Us: Are the Hollars like your own family?
JK: They’re nothing like my family! I come from well-put-together, wonderful people. None of them are insane like the people in this movie. But, at the same time, I connected to that underlying love. Whether you like your family or not, they’re still your family. With them, you always belong.
Us: How did fatherhood change your perspective of your character?
JK: To say it was a different version from when I first signed on is the understatement of the year. When we went to shoot this, my daughter was 4½ months old. Playing a character at the doorstep of what I had just gone through was so moving and emotional for me. I could relate to him.
Us: Your character dreads going back to his hometown. Do you enjoy it?
JK: There’s something about being from Boston, at least for me, that makes you feel like there’s nowhere else to be from. I don’t mean it in a pretentious way. There’s a pride to it. Going to see a Red Sox game or a Patriots game is the most fun — because you’re surrounded by people who are celebrating being from where you’re from.
Us: Would you move back East to raise your family?
JK: We just moved to New York for that exact reason! As soon as we had kids, we felt a pull to be closer to our families. So here we are. We’re East Coast!
