Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried star as John Tyree and Savannah Curtis in the new film Dear John out in theaters Feb. 5. It tells the story of a solider who falls in love with a college student while he’s at home on leave. I have met Channing before and knew he was a very down to earth guy, but wasn’t sure what to expect from Amanda when I walked into my interview with them at a Chicago hotel.
When introduced to her, she was knitting. Imagine, a 23-year-old woman knitting during a press interview. When I asked her what it was, she told me it was a hat but, it wasn’t anywhere near finished. She seemed a bit shy at first but got more comfortable as she started to explain how easy knitting is and her plans to finish the hat for herself. When Channing entered the room, Amanda tried to convince him that he, too, should take up knitting saying, “When you connect to your inner feminine side, that’s the sexiest thing.” To which Channing replied with a laugh, “Always teaching John, that’s how it is.”
In real life, Amanda is dating her former co-star Dominic Cooper from the film Mamma Mia! Channing is also dating a former co-star from Step Up, Jenna Dewan. Here’s what the twosome had to say about their chemistry in Dear John and what their plans are for Valentine’s Day.
Is this a good date movie?
Channing: “I don’t think me and my boys are all going to see it together; it’s not one of those types of films, but I do think guys who are going to go see it will appreciate it maybe a little more than a normal chick flick because there’s a beautiful father-son story and a love story told through the perspective of that.”
Was this character weird for you to play since it was such a lovey-dovey film?
Channing: “I’ve been in love. I am in love so you get to explore our relationship in a very safe way. It’s a character study in a way and you just go off on this journey with these two people and you can totally pull from things in your life and things you’re going to go through and that you haven’t been through.”
Amanda: “Especially for us, we can connect so well to how our characters are feeling. Also we’re playing versions of ourselves so it wasn’t as scary especially when we knew we were going to be working together. After I signed on it was pretty easy especially because of our rapport.”
Where did the amazing chemistry you have in the film come from?
Amanda: “Mutual respect I think. He’s a good guy. He’s really successful and yet he’s so grounded to the most important things in life and that’s what you look for in a co-star, friend, director, anything. You just want someone to have that connection to the ground.”
Channing: “Yea. When you go through one of these journeys together you want to have somebody that’s a buddy, that’s a friend.
Amanda: “That trusts you.”
Channing: “You can explore these characters in a very safe way in a safety net of that we’re really good friends. We know that no lines are going to be crossed and that we’re there for each other, to help each other.”
Did your significant others come onto set and watch you guys?
Both: “Yea.”
Was it weird?
Channing: “It was probably more weird for them than it would be for us because we’re just happy they’re there and experiencing it with us. But they definitely weren’t there for the sex scene.”
Amanda: “No. I know none of us would want to be there for the other’s love scenes. It gets so twisted and unnatural but then again they both understood because they do it themselves. We’re all actors, all four of us.”
Channing: “I think I was just more intimidated about her boyfriend being around because he’s a really good actor. And I was thinking, ‘I hope he doesn’t think I’m a clown.’”
Amanda: “I think that’s so funny you thought that.”
What are your Valentine’s Day plans in real life?
Amanda: “I’m going to Malta.”
Channing: “I wish I was going to Malta. I don’t even know what it is. I’ve never heard of it.”
Amanda: “I feel it’s my duty as a girlfriend to go. What are you going to be doing (looking at Channing).
Channing: “I don’t know what I’m going to be doing. Not quite sure yet.”
Amanda: “You should go to Hawaii because that’s where you guys go all the time. Isn’t it?”
Channing: “Yea. Hawaii’s always good. There’s never really a season where it’s bad.”
Why should people go see this movie?
Amanda: “Dear Chicago, you should see this movie because it’s as real as it can possibly be. Everybody — no matter who you are, where you’re from, how old you are — can relate to something real in this movie. I think it’s going to leave you feeling inspired, at least in regards to love.”
Channing: “[Chicago] is a beautiful city. I love Chi-town. I have a lot of friends that are from here. It’s a great mix of people in general. There’s all different types of love here and great art and everything, so I just hope people enjoy it.”
Afterwards, the two were nice enough to offer me a slice of their Gino’s East Pizza they had bought to hold them over for their long press day.
* Celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend with Mariah Carey who is scheduled to be at the Chicago Theatre (175 N. State St.) Feb. 13-14. The Black Eyed Peas come to the United Center March 13 and Jay-Z will be there March 18. And hope all you teeny boppers got your Justin Bieber tickets. He’ll be performing at the Rosemont Theatre March 24 and 25, but tickets already are sold out. For more ticket information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.
* Mariah Carey’s hubby, Nick Cannon will be doing a live DJ set at The Underground (56 W. Illinois) February 13th. Brody Jenner will be in town Valentine’s Day weekend as well. “The Hills” star will be hosting a party at Enclave (220 W. Chicago Ave.).
* Cast members from MTV’s hit TV show Jersey Shore are scheduled to be in town over the next few weeks. Be on the lookout for JWOWW at Joe’s Bar on Feb. 19 and Mike “The Situation” and Pauly D. at Joe’s Bar on March 6.
For more exclusive interviews, pictures and video click on www.B96.com or www.ShowbizShelly.com. Showbiz Shelly can be heard 5:30-10am on the J. and Julian Morning Show on B96, 96.3 FM. Try beating her at pop culture trivia 7:15am every morning with the Showbiz Shelly Smackdown You can also catch her on You and Me This Morning on WCIU-TV.












“I don’t get a whole lot of presents or anything because I never ask for anything really. A few years ago I asked for a phone. That was for my 15th birthday…I got a phone. I feel like when I ask for something and then get it, it’s like, ‘Oh I got it, now I want this.’”








