Anna Paquin Jokes About the 'Upsides' to Sleeping with the Director (Her Husband Stephen Moyer) (Exclusive)

Anna Paquin says there were benefits to sleeping with her latest director, husband Stephen Moyer — but not because she got preferential treatment on the set of their drama A Bit of Light.

"There are definitely upsides, and not just because I got the part," Paquin, 41, jokes to PEOPLE.

She says it was important that they come to set each day fully prepared because they had to shoot the drama in under three weeks.

"It had to be good, fast, cheap," she says. "It was great to have that time at home to talk about what was going to happen the next day."

A Bit of Light, which is based on a play of the same name, follows the story of an alcoholic mom named Ella who loses custody of her kids and has to pick up the pieces of her broken life. After meeting an unusually mature 12-year-old boy and befriending him, she starts to heal, just a little bit at a time. (Watch an exclusive clip from the film above.)

"I think it's a story of hope," Paquin says of the film, adding that she was thrilled to be able to work with Moyer again.

The couple, who first met on the set of HBO's vampire drama True Blood in 2009, got married in 2011 and welcomed twins Charlie and Dolly, 11, in 2012.

Paquin notes that they actually haven't worked together much over the past decade, save for Moyer directing several episodes of Paquin's drama series Flack.

"He's my favorite person to play with," Paquin says. "Honestly, if I didn't think he was great at directing, I wouldn't be working with him. Of course, I love him dearly as my husband, but I'm pretty unsentimental when it comes to work."

In a recent interview, Moyer, 54, said he also loves working with Paquin. "We were on set every day together for seven years," he told PEOPLE. "And so, actually, when we're not working together it feels like I miss her. If feels weird."

A Bit of Light is in theaters Friday, April 5.