Alyson Stoner's role in Step Up was small (she played Tyler's foster sister, Camille) but it was enough to get her three days on set with Channing Tatum — then a relative unknown, now a god on earth. With the 10-year anniversary of the movie approaching this year (it was released in August 2006) and a new song now out from Stoner ("Woman"), Cosmopolitan.com spoke to the 22-year-old actress/musician/dancer, whom you might also recognize as the pigtailed girl from Missy Elliott's "Work It" video, about her Channing memories, their ESPN Zone date, and that time he showed up to her basketball game.
How did you get the role? Did you audition for it?
No. I was shooting Cheaper by the Dozen 2 with Adam Shankman as the director and while we were shooting [Cheaper], he was producing a dance movie. He said, "There was supposed to be a little black boy in this dance movie, but I'm thinking it should be a little white girl and I'm thinking it should be you. And you only need to shoot for three days in Maryland, it's just this dance project we're putting together." [I] had no idea what it was, didn't meet Channing until I showed up to set. It was almost like a fun, spontaneous favor instead of this professional-sounding gig. Anne Fletcher, the director, was like, "All right, do whatever you feel like doing here, you're great as you are." We didn't even have a strict script on our scenes. I shot for maybe four hours on a few days. I met Channing on set and he's so irresistible as a person. His charm matches his looks. He's a mama's boy. I think his parents were on set.
You said that your scenes weren't tightly scripted, so did you make up dialogue on the spot?
Yep, and we made up our little dance section in the back yard that people still ask me to do, just on the fly. It really was so uncalculated. It was so improvisational, because I think they just wanted a rapport between foster siblings.
Did you do anything to get to know each other?
The first night I arrived, I knew there was an ESPN Zone restaurant and arcade in the area, and I said, "All right Channing, I'm walking to ESPN Zone after set and I'm playing basketball — are you in?" And he said, "Yep!" And we did some brother-sister bonding at the ESPN Zone. And then he told my mom after we wrapped that he'd babysit if we ever needed. So one night he took me to basketball practice and watched from the bleachers, and I swear the whole school about had heart attack.
When was that?
That would have been right after the premiere of Step Up. They recognized him from Coach Carter.
When you had met him, was he the guy from Coach Carter to you?
I didn't know anything about him. I had no idea who he was. I only went on my experience with him as a human and that's enough to root for him. He's so special, both he and Jenna [Dewan-Tatum, his Step Up co-star and wife] are.
What is it about him that's so special?
He's genuinely excited about the opportunities that he has, and he's not afraid to be sensitive, and he's not afraid to show that he cares about people and about his work. It's almost surprising how friendly he is and how much he is truly about the other person in the room. And he's so fun-loving and easy-going and adaptable. And, like I said, if he's gonna tell my mom that he'll babysit me and drive an hour to watch me for a night when my parents wanna go have date night, and he actually shows up and does it the next day? He had plenty of other things he could've been doing and he decided, "No, I'll go spend some time with my little sister, who I worked with for three days."
When exactly did they ask him to babysit?
I think it was at the premiere he told my mom, "Hey, if you ever need anything, let me know," and my mom said, "Yeah, I need someone to take her to practice! How 'bout tomorrow night at 6 p.m.?" And he said, "OK, gimme a call." He could've showed up and been on his phone and done it just to have the reputation, but he really is genuinely present with people. He's cheering for me on the sidelines.
You didn't have any scenes with Jenna, but did you get to meet her?
I did, and I remember after the first day, seeing Channing and Jenna's electric chemistry, my mom named it there that they would get married in real life after the movie. I was like, "Mom, we're actors — hello." And sure enough. Mom's always right.
But they weren't a couple on set then?
I don't think they would've told me whether or not [they were] because I was, you know, 13.
You said Channing's parents were on set. What were they doing?
They were supporting their son — and it just runs in the family. I mean, they have this magnetism about them, and you feel safe and warm and welcomed. They were quiet and respectful and just observing their son in his element.
What else do you remember about the premiere?
They had an after-party somewhere, I forget where, and it was so fun. Of course we had our dance-off, and Channing and I did our little moves from the movie together, one year later. We both remembered it, and it was sort of like finding each other on opposite sides of the dance floor, making eyes, and then like, "All right, let's get down. It's time."
Are you a Magic Mike fan?
I have not seen Magic Mike — I don't think his little sister would want to see that. I'm just terrible with watching movies. I did see 21 Jump Street though.
What did you make of his dancing skills on set? Because you are a trained dancer and he's not.
I hadn't been exposed to street dancers before, so I was a little unsure about his different methods of learning, and his body moved differently than someone who is used to precise technique. And so I thought it was a cool blend to incorporate both worlds, and you got to see that interplay between Jenna and Channing. He worked really hard, and he was very dedicated, and I wasn't surprised when he pulled it together really well.
When was the last time you spoke to Channing?
I haven't seen him in a few years, but when my publicist told me about this interview, I started thinking, It's time that I go bug him, check up and meet the family.
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