Channing Tatum Reveals Why Working With Child Co-star Was Frightening

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It seems like working with a young, inexperienced actor affected Channing Tatum during filming. In the new thriller, Josephine, which premiered at Sundance yesterday, Tatum plays Damien, the father of eight-year-old Josephine, who witnesses a violent attack and becomes increasingly paranoid. Interestingly, Tatum found himself repeatedly comforting his young co-star, Mason Reeves, on set, blurring the lines between his role and reality.

So, after the screening, the director, Beth de Araujo, Channing Tatum, Keanu Reeves (Josephine, what a name!), and Gemma Chan, who plays his mum Claire in the film, did a Q&A. We got to hear how the three of them really connected while making the movie. Apparently, Keanu – can you believe Entertainment Weekly said they found him at a farmer’s market?! – and the others talked about it onstage at the Eccles Theater in Utah. It was really cool to hear how they built that bond.

It was much easier this time because I really enjoyed interacting with her. My main worry was making sure she didn’t think I was genuinely upset. I kept trying to reassure her that I was just pretending.

After the older man shared his story, the younger one responded, saying he’d been repeatedly asked if he was okay, to which he’d simply replied, “I’m fine!” This made Tatum laugh. The younger man then admitted he’d been really frightened.

Young Actors Should Heed Hayden Panettiere’s Words


NBC

Hayden Panettiere, who started acting as a child, recently shared advice for young performers with MovieWeb. She began her career at just nine years old, appearing in shows like Guiding Light and voicing a key character in the popular Pixar film A Bug’s Life. She went on to have roles in Malcolm in the Middle and Ally McBeal as her career gained momentum.

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Hayden Panettiere rose to fame in 2006 with her role as the resilient cheerleader Claire Bennet on the show Heroes. However, her time on the musical series Nashville ultimately proved too difficult, and she took a four-year break from acting after it ended its six-season run. Here’s how she described her struggles with the industry:

I never intended to take four years off work, but filming Nashville was incredibly demanding. We worked for ten months of the year with extremely long days. While there were great moments, it was also exhausting, and by the end of each season, the whole crew was completely worn out. That break was really beneficial for my mental health and gave me the time to prioritize my own well-being.

As a child actor, you quickly realize it’s often expected of you to simply go along with everything. People tell you what to do, and it’s easy to lose sight of who you are. My advice to young performers is to always be assertive and know your boundaries. Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ when something feels wrong. It’s not a failure, and you shouldn’t feel bad about it.

We often neglect our health, but it’s incredibly important. It’s really encouraging to see more and more people, especially young women, speaking up for themselves and prioritizing their well-being. It’s amazing to witness that kind of self-advocacy.

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2026-01-25 17:03