Channing Tatum has opened up about the intense weight loss he underwent for his new film, Roofman. He revealed that shedding 70 pounds took a serious toll on his mental health. The drastic weight loss left the actor feeling empty and sad.
Channing Tatum talks about his 70 Lbs weight loss
Channing Tatum has acknowledged that his latest extreme weight loss negatively affected both his body and his mental well-being.
In an interview with Variety, the actor said that before stepping into the project, he had bulked up to around 240 pounds for another role. However, for Roofman, where he plays Jeffrey Manchester, he aimed to slim down to 185 pounds. But once filming began, his weight continued to drop beyond what he had planned.
Tatum said, “I had only planned to get down to 185. And then, just once, I was already going, and just the days of shooting, it kept coming off, and I got down to like 172.” The unexpected weight loss quickly drew the attention of the crew. Assistant director Mariela Comitini expressed concern about how thin he looked. The actor recounted, “She’s like, that’s it … get him a steak right now,” prompting him to realize the toll the transformation was taking.
Tatum explained that the process brought on an emotional weight he had not anticipated. He said, “It was a sort of emptiness and a sadness to it. I would just see myself, and I would seem hollow. And the movie, a lot for me, was a lot on loneliness, and a real meditation for that wanting to be full and trying to fill an empty vessel.” The actor also added, “That empty feelings sucks after a little while.”
In Roofman, Tatum portrays Manchester, and the film tells the story of a man who broke out of jail and secretly lived within the walls of a Toys “R” Us.
