Last year, PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive title went to Bradley Cooper but not without much hullabaloo from fans of Ryan Gosling. In fact, there was speculation this year that maybe Gosling would receive the title.
But, no, this year is all about Channing Tatum and today, he was named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive. Tatum has starred in four movies this year – Haywire, The Vow, 21 Jump Street, and Magic Mike, which have grossed over $589 million worldwide. Magic Mike was made for only $7 million and grossed $158.9 million alone, making it the highest grossing movie under the Dance genre. Sorry Patrick Swayze and Dirty Dancing.
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The 32-year-old hunk started his career in 2004 with a one-time stint on “CSI: Miami,” but it didn’t take Hollywood long to take notice of this rising young star. Since then, Tatum’s starred in Step Up 2: The Streets, Public Enemies, She’s the Man, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, and Dear John and is in post-production for four movies in the upcoming year, including G.I. Joe: Retaliation.
But, always humble, Tatum thought the PEOPLE honor was a joke at first. “I play a lot of practical jokes, so my first thought was, ‘Y’all are messing with me,'” he said. Even his wife, actress Jenna Dewan, couldn’t believe it when she found out. She has since taken to referring to her husband of three years as “the Sexiest Man Alive.”
Dewan says that her hubby goes deeper than just the chiseled good looks he displays on screen. “People know him to be fun and sexy, but they don’t know how emotionally deep and spiritually open he is,” she told PEOPLE.
And what is the only thing that might make the Sexiest Man Alive sexier? Fatherhood, perhaps? Tatum said that he and Dewan might be ready for that big step. “I’m ready; I think she’s ready. It’s more about trying to find the right time,” he said.
In the meantime, I think I’ll just pop Magic Mike into the DVD player and enjoy the Sexiest Man Alive.