John Krasinski Knew Wife Emily Blunt Was 'the One' the Moment They Met: 'As Soon As I Shook Her Hand' (Exclusive)

John Krasinski, newly crowned PEOPLE’s 2024 Sexiest Man Alive, knows exactly when he fell for his wife of 14 years, actress Emily Blunt.

“The second I met her? I don't know what happened, but I remember someone introduced us, and it was across a room in a restaurant, and I walked over to her,” the actor, 45, tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “And as soon as I shook her hand, I just knew.”

Now raising their daughters, Hazel, 10, and Violet, 8, in Brooklyn, Krasinski says he and Blunt, 41, are mindful that their work schedules support the girls’ routine. “We absolutely try to switch off, we're always looking out for that,” he explains.

“You never want to work at the same time because it's not only important to be there for the kids. It's important for us because I think it keeps us completely and totally centered. Listen, it's a juggle when you're traveling around the world, but luckily we've got great kids and great friends and family who allow us to, when we travel, bring the whole circus with us.”

Working together on 2018’s A Quiet Place, which Krasinski cowrote, directed and starred in alongside Blunt, made it easier. “It's a scary office when you're trying to not be killed on sand,” he jokes of the movie’s storyline. “It was interesting. You know, that process was one of the most thrilling I've ever had because I’d never worked with Emily.”

While the experience was exciting, Krasinski also admits it was “terrifying. I remember the night before [production began], genuinely, we were heading to bed and she turned to me and she said, ‘Are you scared?' And I went, ‘Terrified.’ She went, ‘Oh, thank God. Me too.’ And I thought that was a really good way to go into it, rather than faking it and pretending.”

A day or two before shooting began, Blunt posed another question. “She said, ‘Do you know how to shoot this movie?’ And I went, ‘I think I do.’ And she goes, ‘Okay, great,’” he recalls. “But it turned out to be incredible. Listen, having her trust and having her talent in that movie is the core reason why the movie is successful. So it was awesome.”

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When they aren’t working or hands-on parenting, the couple try and find time for date nights. “We love going out to a dinner, just getting out,” Krasinski says. “The kids will ask, ‘What? You're going out?’ And it's like, ‘Yeah, it's the first time in four months. Thanks.’ When we go out on a date, it's usually dinner and catching up. Because weirdly, that's the thing that you don't always get a chance to do.”

More than anything, Krasinski appreciates the life — and support system — he and Blunt have built together. “It’s that beautiful thing where when you’re married to someone, you’re constantly learning and changing and constantly evolving,” he adds. “And I’m so lucky to go through all that with her.”

For more of Krasinski's exclusive interview and photos, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE on newsstands Friday