WASHINGTON November 14 (RIA Novosti) - Channing Tatum, the American actor most recently known for baring his washboard abs and chiseled muscles as an exotic dancer in the movie “Magic Mike,” has been named by People magazine as 2012’s Sexiest Man Alive.

“I play a lot of practical jokes, so my first thought was, ‘Y’all are messing with me,’” said the Alabama-born hunk upon finding out his new title bestowed to him by People, the American celebrity magazine.

© Photo People.com

The cover of People Magazine

Tatum’s fame began in 2002 when he began modeling for Nautica, Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch, but in the past year his career has skyrocketed in the US with leading roles in the movies, “The Vow,” “21 Jump Street” and “Magic Mike.”

The 32-year-old heartthrob is known for his toned physique, but his wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum told People magazine that there is more to her husband than his striking good looks.

“People know him to be fun and sexy, but they don’t know how emotionally deep and spiritually open he is,” said Dewan-Tatum, an actress who met her husband on the set of the movie “Step Up” in 2009.

“He is such an open-hearted person; what you see is what you get,” she said of Tatum, who is currently training for his next role in which he will portray an Olympic wrestler in the movie, “Foxcatcher.”

In Tatum’s free time, People reported that he enjoys sculpting, quoting Edgar Allan Poe and is looking forward to starting a family in the near future.

“I’m ready; I think she’s ready,” Channing Tatum said. “The first number that pops into my head is three, but I just want one to be healthy and then we’ll see where we go after that.”