Rhys Darby knew it was love at first sight in the 1990s when he met his wife Rosie Carnahan – though this was initially unreciprocated.

Likewise, but in reverse, when it came to naming their business Awesomeness International, Rosie felt it was right, but it was less immediately inspiring for Rhys.

Rhys and Rosie Carnahan-Darby at last year's Qantas Film and TV awards.

The idea for this name came when the pair was touring YouTube headquarters.

'They were very security bound, so we had to sign in and get name tags,” says Rhys.

'When it came to putting in a company name I just typed in Awesomeness International, and we had these big badges with this silly title written on them.”

Rosie says when it came time to get serious about their company, she said 'without a doubt we had to be called Awesomeness International, and Rhys just looked at me like I had been drinking”.

Awesomeness International functions as an agency and production company for international and national comedians.

Rosie says it has been an organic process because they have similar ideas of 'high comedy ideals and we share similar standards in what we think is good comedy”.

These shared standards are born from a relationship begun when Rhys was studying at Canterbury University, and Rosie had just finished.

Rosie co-ran a ‘beatnik performance club' called The Green Room, and the club was advertising for a performer. This performer turned out to be a young Rhys.

The husband-wife team has now worked together as performer and event manager for nearly 14 years, and within the last two has begun Awesomeness International.

And as far as working as a husband and wife team, the key is to just do it.

'I think we have complimentary talents. I have respect for performers, and I try not to impose my ideas on him, but I do,” she says laughing.

'I hope he can respect my management abilities as well. I mean, you have days you just don't want to work together, but I like it. It means as a family you get to spend time together.”

Time had been something difficult to find together as international films such as ‘Yes Man' and ‘The Boat that Rocked' had taken Rhys away for months at a time. Now with two children, five year old Finn and two month old Theo, Rhys says Awesomeness allows them to bring their children up in New Zealand as they always wanted to.

The current project for the busy couple is the upcoming release of Rhys' new film Love Birds, a romantic comedy about an unlucky-in-love romantic hero Doug (Darby). Taking centre stage, Rhys says it was 'challenging” to take command of the screen.

'I wasn't playing my default character; I'm not just popping up and making funny faces. I have to be manly, more handsome. But leading I found it cool. People get to see you in the whole film. There is more drama in this comedy then some of the more ridiculous characters I have played in the past.”

Playing a 'romantic hero who takes a while to get set up”, Rhys is keeping quiet about his own romantic plans for Valentine's Day, but with a question and answer session for advanced screenings of the film, he 'might buy you [Rosie] breakfast” since dinner is not on the cards.

'If you are busy and haven't seen each other in a while, I think Valentine's Day is a great marker to say I love you,” says Rhys.

'I think we are lucky if we have a dinner out,” says Rosie.

'Like a lot of couples who have been married for a long time, you don't buy into it. 'We figure we love each other every day.”