Channing Tatum covers Details Mag: “I know I’m not the best actor”

Over the years, I’ve grown to really like Channing Tatum. At first I dismissed him as a pretty-but-dumb kid, a decent guy with a sweet personality and not much else. But I misread him. He really is a sweet guy, I think, and a good ol’ boy from the South, but he’s smarter and he’s got more staying power than I originally thought. He sold a story that was turned into a screenplay which Steven Soderbergh just directed. He’s also moved into producing – he executive produced 21 Jump Street, and produced Magic Mike (his story about being a stripper in Tampa). Add to all of that this little fact: Channing is actually interesting and funny. He consistently gives great interviews, he doesn’t take himself too seriously, and he never thinks he’s “too good” for anything. It’s a great combination.

Anyway, Channing covers the new issue of Details, in support of his latest film, The Vow. He and Rachel McAdams star together as love interests, and the film looks super-sappy. I hope it’s a big hit, for both of their sakes. Oh, and he’s also in Haywire! I forgot that. Channing and Michael Fassbender, in the same film. YAY! You can read the full Details piece here, and here are some highlights:

Shootin‘: “When I was a kid,” he says, “we lived on the bayou in Mississippi. My dad would throw a beer can into the water and have me shoot at it. Once, when I was really little, we had this huge double-barrel shotgun, and when I tried it, it literally blew me off the dock.”

Wearin‘ dresses: “There goes Jesus,” Tatum said as we rolled along Sunset. And there He was in the crosswalk—latte in hand, robe flowing in His wake, fluttering across Fairfax Avenue. “I’d walk around in a man dress,” Tatum said. “It looks so comfortable. I’d do that all day long—walk around in a dress like Jesus.”

Artin’: He’s darker, deeper, more creative than his easygoing manner—and most of his roles—might suggest. These days, when he’s not attempting mock suicide, he spends a lot of time sculpting torsos from clay and drawing severe oil-stick sketches on butcher paper.

Romancin’: “You gotta do the Dear Johns. You gotta do The Vow… I’m conscious about why I did those parts, those movies,” Tatum says after jokingly apologizing for my having had to watch them. He says he took the roles for the sake of his education, which is, of course, an industry trope. But it’s one he delivers with such sincerity that it’s impossible not to absolutely take him at his word. “I wanted to learn from Rachel on The Vow,” he says. “I wanted to learn from Lasse Hallström on Dear John—he did The Cider House Rules and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. I didn’t go to acting school, so my knowledge of story, filmmaking, and character comes from just being on set and doing it… I know I’m not the best actor,” he says. “But I hope my characters are getting better.”

Producin‘: “I really don’t want to be in any more movies that I don’t produce,” he says. “Unless it’s with one of the 10 directors that I really want to work with, I don’t have any interest in not being on the ground floor of creating it.”

Hangin‘ with the dog: “Want to see dirty dancing?” Tatum asks. Lulu trots over to the far side of the patio. When Tatum snaps his fingers and commands “Dirty dancing,” the muscled pooch—in her rhinestone-studded pink leather collar—charges toward him. She leaps high into his arms, and he thrusts her upward until she’s suspended over his head in a balletic lift. Then the two twirl around, poolside, illuminated by twinkle lights. “You jumped the gun,” Tatum says to the dog. “We’ll do it over.” Which they do, again and again.

Workin’: Tatum’s office has 25-foot-high ceilings, a desk made from the wing of an old airplane, and an enormous chalkboard with ideas and stories blocked out all over it. A couple of leather saddles sit on sawhorses near the door. Tatum says he’s often there until 4 a.m., brainstorming or writing snippets of scenes or making clay torsos. “Jenna’s not always happy when I come home that late,” he says, “but I’ve just got to get it out.”

Toastin‘: “What are we toasting?” I ask. He looks up and meets me dead in the eye. “Isn’t it obvious?” he says. “We’re just getting started with our lives, just figuring out the rest of it. The creativity is in place, the sex is good. There’s really only one toast to make.” Tatum lifts the glass as high as he lifted his dog. “Live forever,” he says. “Just live like this forever.”

[From Details]

He’s so cute. When I think about the less talented, more entitled people who actually find success and acclaim in the industry, it makes me want to see Channing succeed even more. I especially liked what he said about why he’s made the sappy movies like Dear John and now The Vow – because he wanted to learn, because he wanted to work with those people, because Channing knows that there‘s always more to learn and you shouldn‘t denigrate those early experiences. I wish Rooney Mara was more like Channing Tatum. I can’t believe I just said that.

Photos courtesy of Details’ slideshow.

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21 Responses to “Channing Tatum covers Details Mag: “I know I’m not the best actor””

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  1. LeeLoo says:

    In that interview all I read was “Channing not good actor.” “Channing no take parts that make Channing look like caveman that he is.”

    I am not a Channing fan…can you tell?

  2. Laura says:

    That’s an understatement. He’s a terrible actor. I’ve seen every movie he’s been in (by coincidence, not choice) and he’s never been good. His nice personality doesn’t make up for the fact that he sucks.

    • carrie says:

      i think he can be a new Mark Walhberg:he’s ambitious,a notorious director likes him(James Gray for Walhberg,/Sodenberg for Tatum)and if he’s well casted (Walhberg as Micky Ward),he must be watchable

      i don’t care if he’s nice because when i see a movie,all i want to see it’s good acting

  3. Katie says:

    Alright, he may be dumb, but he’s also charming in a slobbery Labrador sort of way. I like a man who knows what he is and isn’t afraid to be himself. Good on ya, Channing.

  4. Miss Thang says:

    I don’t watch his movies to see good acting. I don’t know any woman who does. lol
    Oh, we watch but for other reasons…

  5. Eve says:

    He’s so cute. When I think about the less talented, more entitled people who actually find success and acclaim in the industry, it makes me want to see Channing succeed even more.

    People like Justin Timberlake — who probably believes he’s the second coming of Laurence Olivier but can’t act to save his life (playing his own douchebag self in The Social Network wasn’t exactly acting — and even that I found painful to watch).

    Even though I call him Charming Potato (blame Pajiba), I have a soft spot for him — I simply can’t hate the guy.

    • I Choose Me says:

      Heh. I call him Charming Potato too, also thanks to Pajiba. I do think he’s a sweet guy but sweet gorram he’s a bad actor. It’s good he’s working to improve that.

      Sam Worthington is another one that could use some emoting skills.

      • Rio says:

        I disagree.

        The only way to salvage a Sam Worthington performance is to cast a different actor.

      • podzol says:

        I realized that his real-life voice tone has a really flat affect; I used to blame his woodenness on bad acting. Now, I just don’t know if it’s a combo of bad acting and I can’t-help-it-I-sound-as-lifeless-in-real-life. But still, sweet guy and sweet interview (a bit like that Pattinson bloke — terrible actor, but nothing to razzie about in interviews).

    • Kara Ann says:

      Yep, Charming Potato, that’s how I refer to him. It is so apt. He is just a big ole nothing too fancy but he’ll get the job done charmin’ potato!

      BTW, love pajiba.

    • Shay Kay says:

      I too dismissed Charming Potato (thank you for getting it so right Pajiba)but maybe i was a bit hasty.In his interviews he’s seems intelligent, funny, and likeable..in his pictures..well I never dismissed him in those!I like that he’s not a pretentious @sshole but rather a “hey I know I’m not great but I’m working on it” will get me over a “yes I’m wonderful and we all know it” everytime.

  6. Nan209 says:

    I think he is getting better. He has had to hit the ground running and learn what he can. He’s honest about and he’s not all insecure about it like some actors. I’ve learned to appreciate him over the years. I’m actually looking forward to 21Jump Street which surprised me because when I first heard about I rolled my eyes.

    • TinaCC says:

      Yes, this. I think he’s a sweetie, in that big caveman who is only trying to please you by knocking an animal over the head in an offering of his devotion kind of way.

      When I heard they were doing a 21 Jump Street movie, I was dismayed for months til I saw the trailer and actually laughed out loud numerous times.

      I’m simple person, and I like my simple boys, and I’m prolly going to watch this movie in the theatre with my reduced-rate tickets through work. I’ll prolly stream The Vow, too, just for him. But in the privacy of my own home.

      This guys makes me smile, what can I say?

  7. danielle says:

    a little on the cheesy side – but cute dog!!!!

  8. Nessa says:

    Aww, he is so cute. I can’t help but like him. He is a lot easier to take than the aforementioned Timberlake.

  9. s says:

    G#D I LOVE HIM!!!!!!

  10. Blue says:

    He is so nice to look at and that part with the dirty dancing with the dog is so cute.

  11. Jules says:

    Charming Potato can bend me over any day of the week. 🙂

  12. Tiffany says:

    I never understood the Tatum hate. He is not the greatest actor, but is not the worse either. He comes across great in interviews and you never hear about him behind the scenes being a douche. There are just more people out there that deserve that kind that kind of snark. Yeah, I’m looking at you Timberdouche.