Joe Manganiello Talks Big Dick Ritchie

Joe Manganiello may have a small part in new movie Magic Mike, which opens Friday. But that doesn't mean that his role as Big Dick Richie, a male stripper (who we know likes to wear a fireman's outfit from his previous TV apperances and the trailers) alongside Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer, does seem to have quite a sidekick. Reports from those who've seen the film are that he performs in silhouette behind a screen and that the moniker--er--fits nicely.

But the True Blood beefcake is playing coy about whether he used a body double or he's stuffing in some way. When we interviewed him for our March cover, William Van Meter wrote: "He demurs when asked if he stuffed his G-string to fill out the challenging sobriquet. 'Um, I'll let everybody see the movie and they can decide,' he says sheepishly. He insists that no waxing was involved, however. 'I don't have any body hair,' he explains. 'It stops at my neck. I'm part Sicilian and Armenian.'

Now, Manganiello tells the New York Post's Jane Ridley:

"You know, I love the curiosity. I am reveling in the curiosity." But the raunchy role means he won't be screening the movie, which opens Friday, for his mom. He said, "I don't want to ever talk to her about it. I certainly don't want to sit next to her at the premiere. I wouldn't want to do that to myself, or her! The other side of it is all the racy stuff I'm doing in 'True Blood.' It's going to be a weird, long hot summer with my parents because of all that." But he joked that if he ever gives up acting, "I could use it [stripping] as a Plan B. Either that or give it away for free to the right person. That sounds like a lot more fun."

This reminds us of the time, way back in the '90s when Mark Wahlberg was faced with a similar confession about his role as Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights. At the time he was quite blunt: "People have seen me in my underwear before [as a Calvin Klein underwear model]. I would imagine it would be pretty difficult to hide something like that!" He also said he "had a 'penis wrangler'...They put me inside and glued it on. I couldn't pee. I held it all day."

We're hoping that we'll get more tidbits like this from Joe once everyone has seen the movie and wants to know more.