Josh Hartnett Reveals the Key to Having a 'Solid Base' in Marriage with Wife Tamsin Egerton (Exclusive)

"You have to consistently give more than you think you're getting," says the 'Trap' actor

Josh Hartnett is sharing an "important" component of his marriage with wife Tamsin Egerton.

The Trap actor, 46, shares four kids with the British actress, 35, whom he married in 2021 after first meeting in 2013 when they co-starred in the film The Lovers.

What makes their relationship work? "I think you have to give more than you feel you receive," Hartnett tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "That's the biggest thing."

"If everybody feels like they're giving about 80 percent to the relationship and the other person's only giving 20, then you're probably both giving 50," he continues.

"You have to really give as much as you can because innately, as human beings we're a little bit selfish. We think we see all the good things that we do, but we don't really notice necessarily all the good things that the other person's doing all the time."

Related: Josh Hartnett Says Heartthrob Label Was 'Frustrating': 'I Wanted to Define Myself' (Exclusive)

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Hartnett says, "You have to consistently give more than you think you're getting, then you guys will come somewhere in the middle. If both people in the relationship understand that and try for that, then I think you can have a really solid base."

Today, Hartnett lives with his family in the Hampshire countryside of England. Their eldest daughter turns 9 later this year. Are their kids aware of their parents' famous work lives?

"They're aware, but I think only through osmosis just going to school and everybody else talking. We don't bring that home," says Hartnett. "Dad has to go to work, and they do know what I do — they have come to sets — but they don't understand the thing yet. And I'm glad that they don't."

The star adds, "We'll try and keep them away from it as much as possible because we want them to have normal upbringings."

Trap is in theaters now.

For more on Josh Hartnett, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.

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