Entertainment

Q&A: JOHN KRASINSKI

We have to wonder if, 60 years from now, John Krasinski will be sitting in an empty room, turning to some nonexistent camera and absent-mindedly delivering the trademark smirk of discomfort that he breaks out at least four times on every episode of “The Office.” Old habits die hard, indeed. But Krasinski has already started leaving the Jim Halpert character behind by branching out into movies. His latest is this weekend’s “Away We Go,” a bittersweet comedy directed by Sam Mendes about an unwed couple (Krasinski and Maya Rudolph) expecting their first child. The pair travels the country, meeting weirdo friends and looking for a place to settle down.

Sam Mendes is not usually associated with comedy.

When you’re that good, as I think Sam is, you can do anything. I think he proves that with this movie for sure. It’s a different type of comedy. It hinges on how much you love the characters, and that’s what Sam’s so good at. I think he’s the best storytelling director we have right now. His theater background and ability to tell the story of a relationship is astounding.

Was his wife, Kate Winslet, hanging around the set?

She came by. She cooked us dinner the night before we shot to wish us luck and welcome us to the movie, which is insane! Yes, I’m talking about the Kate Winslet, the incredible award-winner. She was cooking us dinner. It didn’t seem to add up. But then again, seeing my name on the poster for this movie didn’t add up, either.

You must have been pretty comfortable with Maya to shoot the opening scene, which involves you, er, going downtown.

Exactly. I think that was the first or second thing we shot. It was an incredible icebreaker and a genius move on Sam’s part — if he did it on purpose. It’s one of those things that if you can get through that on day two, we’re going to be just fine.

There are themes here about responsibility and what it means to be an adult. Did that resonate with you?

One-hundred percent. What I said to Sam was that the craziest thing about this movie was that it was a universal movie. It has little to do with pregnancy. Having the baby is the catalyst to looking at yourself in a new perspective and also judging yourself in the world of responsibility. That’s something that we all struggle with, probably up to ages 40 and 50. Back in the day, it was one of those things where you got married in your early 20s and that was it. Nowadays, there’s this freedom to keep going and get new jobs and move and try stuff out. But it creates this upheaval mentally for a lot of people, because I think we’re always trying to figure out where we belong. For me at 29, basically all my friends are going through the same thing.

If you could pick up and move anywhere, where would you go?

Probably back to New York City. I live in LA now. I like everything about New York. That heartbeat of the city, which sounds cliché but it’s true. There’s a rhythm in the city that forces you to get up and go whether you’re having a good day or a bad day, and I’ve always respected that.

You’re so identified with your character from “The Office.” Does that make it difficult to get other work?

It’s an interesting thing. “The Office” is never something you want to get away from or distance yourself from. It’s the greatest opportunity I have had or maybe ever will have. I’m sure just like anyone who’s made the transition from TV to film or is trying to, that it’s tough for people to see you other than in that character. At the end of the day, it’s all about the performance, and if people believe the performance, then they’re not going to think about the other stuff. Hopefully, that’s what happens. I’m signed on for three more years and I’ll gladly do as many as they want me to.

PICKING HIS BRAIN

“I just got into ‘American Idol’ this year for the first time.”

“A couple friends of mine had a small party for it. I was like, ‘This is insane. How do so many people care…?’And then in the middle of my sentence, I was locked in. I just think that anybody living out their dreams is exciting to watch.”

“The tabloids don’t really dig into my life. I’m pretty much a very boring person as far as they’re concerned, and I think they’re right. Everybody’s left me alone for the most part. I need to get really drunk and jump off a building. And live to tell about it, obviously — otherwise it’s not much of a scandal.”

“I’m a big tent-pole guy just like anyone else. I’m looking forward to ‘Terminator’ and ‘Transformers.’ I’ll see them all. As long as I have a bucket of popcorn and a Diet Coke, we’re good.”

“I’ve never really thought of myself as tall [at 6-foot-3]. My brothers are 6-foot-8 and 6-foot-9, so I’ve always felt short. You know what? [‘The Office’ co-star] Rainn Wilson and I are almost the same height. That defuses everything.”

I just got a dog so I have no spare time anymore. It’s a Red Fox Labrador. I didn’t even know that existed, but it’s basically a redheaded Lab. His name is Finn. I went through a bunch of names, literary-type stuff, I guess.”

“I was an intern on Conan O’Brien’s show. He works so hard and so many hours, you realize you’ll never work as hard as Conan. It takes the stress off things in a way. It’s about going into this business and having fun with it. I remember I saw him at the Emmys this year, and he said, ‘Please tell me you’re still having fun.’ I think in his head he was hoping that, like on his show, we’re still having fun, and we are.”