Channing Tatum was desperate for Kirsten Dunst to like him.

The Magic Mike actor has always been "obsessed" with the 43-year-old actress' career so he felt "intimidated" when they were cast together in new movie Roofman.

Explaining his favourite of his co-star's work is her 1994 movie Interview with the Vampire, Channing told People magazine: "I couldn't imagine doing what she did in that film at the age.

"Everything she's ever done, I've been obsessed with.

"I was so intimidated to work with her -- and when I say intimidated, I was afraid. I just wanted her to like me.

"I was like, 'Please like me!' "

Roofman sees Channing play real-life convict Jeffrey Manchester - who is currently serving a 40-year prison sentence after robbing 45 branches of McDonald's - and he recalled interrupting a meeting with his daughter's teacher so he could take a call from the inmate.

Channing - who has 12-year-old Everly with ex-wife Jenna Dewan - said: "It's a wild thing when you can't call somebody and they call you from a supermax prison and you have 15 minutes with them.

"You basically have to pick up, almost wherever you are.

"I was talking to my daughter's teacher one time, and literally Jeffrey Manchester is calling and you're just like, 'One second, prison's calling.'

"And then you just go have this 15-minute conversation and then that's it. He's gone and you don't know when he's going to call back or what time."

The 45-year-old actor "had no idea really what to expect" when he first read the Roofman script but he got along well with Jeffrey on the phone and is hoping to meet him face-to-face one day.

He said: "He's a wildly charismatic and warm human. He takes care of you on this phone call.

"I never got to meet [Manchester]. So hopefully when he gets out, or at some point I'm allowed to actually go see him."

The movie focuses on the six-month period where the thief evaded capture by secretly living in a branch of Toys R Us, and he drew on his own life experience for inspiration during some emotional scenes that saw Jeffrey watching his daughter from afar without her realising.

He explained: "I wasn't acting. It's the easiest thing in the world.

"I remember the first time that my daughter [rode a bike] and I was pushing her on the bike, and I can't imagine watching... I mean, I did imagine watching my daughter and not being able to go and have that moment with her. It just crushed me. Absolutely crushed me."