The 2006 dance/romance film, Step Up, saw Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan in the lead roles. While the film received mixed to average reviews from the critics, it went on to make $114 million at the box office. What can we say, audience is a sucker for romance! In fact, on Rotten Tomatoes, Step Up’s audience score sits quite high at 83%, compared to the 21% from the critics.
As for Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, Step Up was more than just a film. After meeting for the first time on the set of the movie in 2005, they felt an instant connection. This instant connection eventually turned into a relationship after Tatum had the guts to confess his feelings to Jenna Dewan. Well, it did require a bit of beforehand drinking.
How Channing Tatum Confessed to Jenna Dewan
Talking to Cosmopolitan, Jenna Dewan opened up about how she and Channing Tatum got into a relationship. She recalled how both of them felt a spark during a night out with friends, and from that moment onwards, started hanging out more often. However, since Tatum had recently gotten out of a relationship, Dewan did not want to rush things.
“But he had just gotten out of a relationship. So I said, ‘You know what? You are probably not ready to jump into another one. Why don’t you take your time and figure out what you want?’”
Dewan realized that all their feelings could possibly be because of the fact that they were making a movie together. She decided to distance herself from Tatum. The actress stated,
“I figured we might just be into each other because we’re shooting a movie. I said, ‘While you’re figuring that out, I’m not just going to hang out and watch movies and flirt. I’ll see you on set.’”
It looks like Tatum soon realized what he truly wanted and finally went to confess his love to Dewan. But in order to do so, Tatum needed some help from everyone’s dear old friend – alcohol.
“It was two nights of being weird. We hadn’t even kissed. And then he went out partying with a bunch of dancers. His room was right above mine, and he came down drunk with a sombrero on, banging on my door. He was like, ‘I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Let’s do this. I just want to be with you.’ From that point forward, we were together.”
The two embarked on a long journey together. They got engaged in 2008 and tied the knot a year later in a private ceremony in Malibu. In 2013, Dewan gave birth to their first child, Everly. Unfortunately, things did not work out and they ended up splitting in 2018.
Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum’s First Few Interactions
Dewan had to go in to read lines with Tatum but was met with a few awkward moments. First, the Supergirl actress showed up late, that too with the wrong scenes. Second, she opened the door to the room while another girl was in the auditions, interrupting her kiss with Tatum. The Magic Mike actor couldn’t have been more of a sweetheart, though.
“I went in to read for the part with Channing but showed up late with the wrong scenes. Then I opened the door on the poor girl who was auditioning before me right as they were leaning in for a kiss. I was horrified. But he was so sweet. He came out and worked the scenes with me.”
Dewan then recalled how the two could not stop flirting with each other, which the crew got on tape.
“I was like, ‘All right! Okay!’ So we did the scenes. After, they were like, ‘Just stand next to each other on camera.’ There’s a video of this, and we’re completely flirting in it. I’m looking at him going, ‘You’re so big! You’re so tall!’ And he’s like, ‘You dance really good.’ I sound like Minnie Mouse, and he’s talking so deep. Then it ends on us just looking at each other being like, ‘Hi.’”
Tatum and Dewan kept the tape with them through all their years together and intended to show their daughter someday. We wonder where the tape is now.
You can rent/buy Step Up from Prime Video.
Source: Cosmopolitan
