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Channing Tatum: Id be giving a woman a lap dance and suddenly shed grab my butt!

Hes hitting screens and gyrating in our faces again in Magic Mike XXL (hallelujah), so Channing Tatum, 35, talks real-life stripping stories, parenting, and romance

[Channing Tatum]

Channing worked as a stripper before he was famous(Image: Warner Bros/Getty)

Mega-hunk Channing Tatum is a big deal in Hollywood these days. Proving hes much more than just a pretty face and hot body, he now has a string of huge movies on his CV, including Oscar-nominated thriller Foxcatcher and hes moved on from the cheesy Step Up dance franchise to become a proper actor.

Although nothing quite stuck in our dirty little minds more than the wonder of 2012s Magic Mike, which featured Channing as a bumping n grinding stripper. No wonder it was such a smash. Now our prayers have been answered and Mike and the gang return for Magic Mike XXL, the sequel that promises more squeals, bum slaps, baby oil and, of course, lots of buff bodies.

Channings personal debauched experiences of the smutty strip club scene were the inspiration behind the Magic Mike movies, and he recalls a lot of heavy drinking from his own days as an 18-year-old stripper in Florida.

Now, however, things are very different, and his life revolves around his 34-year-old wife, actress Jenna Dewan (lucky lady), and looking after his two-year-old daughter, Everly.

(Which causes us to picture a beautiful baby being cradled in those big arms)

A real family man with lashings of cute smushyness is how we like to imagine life in the Tatum household. Wed take deep, lovey dovey stuff, a Hollywood Hills back drop, BFF Jonah Hill popping round for a cuppa, and a lap dance before bed any day. Sigh.

Channing talks grinding, groping and girls

What does your wife think of you being back as super-hot stripper Magic Mike?

Ha! She actually loves Magic Mike, believe it or not. Its weird because my job in these movies is to do things that wives probably wouldnt want their husbands doing. But shes just cool like that.

Do you have to run some of the more risqu moments past her before filming?

Yeah, we work it out and then I show Jenna for her approval. But shes an actress. She goes and does things that probably other husbands wouldnt want their wives to go and do, so its a nice trade off.

Its an interesting thing that actors have to deal with, but were 10 years into it now, so its kind of old hat. I still dont like seeing her kiss other people, but thats just the way it goes.

[Channing Tatum]

Channing Tatum with Joe Manganiello in Magic Mike XXL

Is there a line that one or both of you wouldnt cross?

No. If she had to do some part, or gets offered a movie that is going to be hard for me to watch, I dont want to tell her she cant do it. Its the same for us both.

If I was just doing a movie about strippers, then I dont know, shed probably question it. But Magic Mike started off as a story that I really loved and its grown into something I love even more. Even though it was a dangerous and dark world when I lived in it, its an experience that I wouldnt trade because, luckily, I got out of it unscathed.

When do you think your daughter will be old enough to see you in Magic Mike and some of your other movies?

I dont know. Theres almost nothing that she can watch right now, but shes going to end up watching a lot. Its gonna be her punishment! But its not a conscious decision to make more adult movies. If some great stories come along that are appropriate for her, then great.

How is life as a father?

Its the most beautiful adventure Ive ever taken. Its opened up a whole new world for me and its made me look at my life and work in a completely different way. When I say my daughter is the light of my life, its not a clich, its real.

My wife and daughter are my heart and soul and I want to accomplish so much for them and give them the happiest life I possibly can.

[Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum]

Channing and wife Jenna Dewan(Image: Getty)

Aww! So is it hard juggling family time with your work?

Its tough not to be there as much as Id like. Even when I am home, sometimes Ill be thinking about work and I dont feel as if Im giving my wife and daughter enough of my time and spirit.

But the joy I get from watching my little girl smile and how she laughs at me and plays with me Its worth it. I intend to become an even better man and better husband and father as time goes on.

Magic Mike is a real ladies man. Are you like that in real life? Or are you a romantic?

Nothing like it! No, look, Im married so I try to do as much romantic stuff as I can. I mean, I danced with my wife for an entire three months in Step Up before we actually started to date and weve been together 10 years. So Im sure Ive done a lot of that stuff.

Many people assume you used to be a womaniser, given the fact you were a stripper

I can understand that, but it is so far away from who I am. I was raised in the kind of family where I was taught to respect women, be a true gentleman, and believe in love and romance. I never wanted to ever treat women like objects or have one-night stands, even though I could have lived that kind of life.

But thats just empty sex and that never interested me. Meeting my wife Jenna was the greatest thing that could have happened to me. When I met her, I knew that I had met a woman I wanted to spend my life with. Im a much better man because of her.

You charmer! A lot of the action in Magic Mike XXL takes place at a stripper convention. What were your experiences of that kind of event?

Strippers arent holding panel discussions about dance techniques or penis-enhancing drugs or technology! Its more of a big show where you have maybe 100 strippers appearing in one arena where there are a few thousand women screaming at you.

The women are basically attacking you. Id be giving a woman a lap dance and suddenly she would grab my butt. Its a completely crazy time.

[CHANNING TATUM & STEVE CARELL, Foxcatcher]

Channing with Steve Carell in Foxcatcher(Image: Sony Pictures Classics)

How did shooting Magic Mike compare to Foxcatcher (which is about the murder of an Olympic wrestler)?

Foxcatcher was an ordeal It was emotionally and physically draining, and its hard for me to even talk about it. My knees still hurt from working on it, it was very intense. I probably wont do a film like that again for a while.

Youve spoken about how driven you are

I still have the mindset of an over-achiever. I had a hard time studying when I was young and I had to fight to overcome a lot of negative perceptions about my intelligence and what I could achieve in life. That kind of thing stays with you. You want to keep proving yourself and keep exceeding expectations.

Ive worked very hard for everything I have in life, and even if Ive had some success in this business, I still have huge ambitions for the future and the kinds of films I want to make as a producer or director. Im just getting started!

Lastly, why should we go and see Magic Mike XXL?

Everyone should go and see it! Women should see it because they can say to their men, "Why dont you dress up like that and do that for me?" And men should see it and think, "Yeah, why dont I do that?:" For that reason alone, everyone should see this movie.

Magic Mike XXL is in cinemas from July 1.

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