G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra actor star Channing Tatum — who stars opposite Amanda Seyfried in the new romantic drama/war film Dear John — always wanted to be an action hero since he was a kid. But Tatum also insists that despite his childhood ambitions, becoming a romantic leading man is just as good as fighting the bad guys.

“When you’re growing up, you imagine yourself being an action hero who’s running around shooting guns and jumping from buildings, I’ve done that, but I knew I could handle a movie about first love. In real life I have probably been as equally versed in romance as physical stuff.”

Tatum also revealed that he is planning to make a movie about strippers. Tatum himself was an exotic dancer as a teenager before he became an actor.

“I did it for almost a year, I’ve lived a crazy life, for sure. It seemed like a fun thing to do at the time and I got out unscathed. It’s nothing I’m ashamed of and I’m not proud of it either. I’ve already got the director picked out. I’d like Nicolas Refn, who did the movie Bronson, to do it because he’s insane for it. It needs to be a crazy film and I think it’s also possible to do a cute, romantic movie. I’m going to be getting back in my thong again.” Tatum said.