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‘I paint my face, I wear tutus’ – Channing Tatum on coping as a single parent

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Hollywood heartthrob Channing Tatum has opened up about single fatherhood in a new interview. (PHOTO: Instagram/ChanningTatum)
Hollywood heartthrob Channing Tatum has opened up about single fatherhood in a new interview. (PHOTO: Instagram/ChanningTatum)

Throw yourself into your daughter’s world and discover who she really is – that is Channing Tatum’s advice to other dads.

In an interview with Parents magazine, the Hollywood hunk opened up about the challenges he’s faced since becoming a single parent in the wake of his split from actress and dancer Jenna Dewan, with whom he shares seven-year-old daughter Everly.

“When I became a single father, I had a lot of fear about connecting to Everly in every way that a little girl might want. I didn’t wear nail polish or know how to braid hair. But now I do both.”

The 40-year-old star of films such as Magic Mike and 22 Jump Street says he also “paints his face and wears tutus”.

“Rarely am I around the house without some sort of costume on. I jumped with both feet into this magical world and I was rewarded with a kind of love that I don’t think I would have ever been able to have otherwise.”

Their bond inspired him to write a kids’ book, The One and Only Sparkella, due out next month.

“Just like Sparkella, Evie loves to play tricks, wear crazy outfits and be different from everyone. She’s bold, beautiful and magical in every way.”

(PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Channing Tatum and his now ex-wife, Jenna Dewan Tatum, at the premiere of War Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend in 2017 in Los Angeles. (PHOTO: Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Channing and Jenna (40) were married for nine years before announcing their split in April 2018. Their divorce was finalised in November 2019.

They ended up in a custody battle over Everly, which was eventually resolved last year with a 50/50 split in custody.

Jenna has gone on to have a son, Callum (1), with actor fiancé Steve Kazee (45), and she and Channing are now amicable co-parents.

In an interview last year with Romper, a website for mothers, Jenna spoke about their co-parenting arrangement, saying that “communication is key”.

“Keeping all your communication elevated and in a place of goodwill, and knowing that situations might change but making sure the love for your child stays there.”

Channing had a two-year on-off romance with British singer Jessie J, but they broke up late last year.

Sources: etonline.com, babyology.com.au, Instagram

 

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