For Jason Clarke, acting is important—but family always comes first. The 56-year-old star of Hulu’s true-crime series Murdaugh: Death in the Family tells PEOPLE that if his wife, Cécile Breccia, ever asked him to step away from his career, he would do so without hesitation.

“I really would,” Clarke says. “I’ve got no complaints with what I’ve done. It’s important for my family to be happy. I love them a lot.”

Balancing Work and Family

Clarke shares that his current projects involve a lot of coordination with Breccia and their two sons. He calls it “a lot of figuring out the logistics” and emphasizes the importance of having a supportive partner in managing a busy acting career.

“You can’t do it without a partner like I have,” he says. “We live a good life. We enjoy our travel together. Who knows where we’re going to be at some point, really.”

Before committing to any role, Clarke asks himself if he has the energy and time for it, balancing professional opportunities with family responsibilities.

“The 25-year-old in me goes, ‘Man I want to go and do it,’ ” he laughs. “Then, I think, ‘I’ve got two kids in school.’ There’s all this give and take, and then, boom, you’re lucky enough to work with someone like Kathryn Bigelow in A House of Dynamite.”

Fatherhood and Life Lessons

Clarke admits that his changing schedule can sometimes worry him about his boys, but he also cherishes the chance to travel and teach them about the world.

“I want to be a great father, whatever that entails, and that is a lot of up and down,” he says. “I can show them the way, I can teach them things and all that, but I want to make sure that they feel like their life is their own, like mine was for me. That’s what my parents gave me.”

He hopes to take his sons to his hometown in Winton, Queensland, to show them where he grew up and where his father worked as a sheep shearer.

“Their reality will be different from mine,” Clarke reflects. “I always wanted to travel. I always knew that. [Now] I’ve traveled a lot of the world, and I’ve been living in this country for a long time and I love it. It comes down to your choices.”

Upcoming Projects

Next year, Clarke will travel to India for a new project, highlighting his continued passion for acting and exploration.

“The world’s still an amazing place to me,” Clarke says.

Whether on screen as Alex Murdaugh or in his personal life as a devoted husband and father, Jason Clarke continues to prioritize what matters most: the happiness and well-being of his family.