For Channing Tatum, the allure of magic isn't a universal constant. In fact, the actor openly admitted that achieving the diverse physiques demanded by his roles has necessitated relentless effort—a testament to which is his recent drastic weight loss for his upcoming film, Roofman. Now 45, these extreme physical transformations have left an indelible mark on his mental landscape.
"My initial goal was to drop down to 185 pounds," he revealed in a September 2 interview with Variety. "But as days on set flew by, the weight kept shedding, and I found myself at an unexpected 172." It was during this period that assistant director Mariela Comitini's concern triggered a moment of clarity for him. "I thought, 'She's right. This is off-kilter,'" he recounted.
For the Magic Mike sensation, this weight loss journey was accompanied by an unforeseen decline in his mental well-being, a side effect that came as a shock during his physical metamorphosis. "It felt like a void, a profound sadness," Channing shared. "I'd look in the mirror and see a hollow shell of myself. The film itself was deeply steeped in themes of loneliness, a meditation on yearning for fulfillment and attempting to fill an empty void." He added, "That hollow sensation becomes utterly exhausting after a while."
Yet, Channing believes that this personal experience enriched his portrayal of fugitive Jeffrey Manchester, a former United States Army Reserve officer in the film. Speaking as a veteran of the screen, he told Variety, "I've lived six or seven lives within one." He continued, "Life serves as fuel for our art. If you've experienced heartbreak, pain, and the raw, isolated essence of loneliness, then you have something genuine to offer. I've lived enough to possess both the technique and the authenticity to convey these emotions on screen."
