Tyson Beckford is "hot to trot" in Chippendales, "Chocolate City"
When Tyson Beckford got the call to join Chippendales as a celebrity guest performer, he considered the invite a big compliment.
"It's just saying, 'You know what? You might be in your 40s, but you're still hot to trot,'" Beckford said.
Beckford recently kicked off his guest stint and will trot all across the stage at Las Vegas' Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino through May 24.
"These guys are legendary," Beckford, 44, said during a recent visit to CBS News.
Which means Beckford decided to up his game in the diet and fitness departments prior to joining the all-male revue.
He's been doing calisthenics mixed with cardio and weight training to get into full shape. Prior to setting up shop in Vegas, Beckford spent time working out a his local gym in New Jersey, where he's been going for years. They know him there, and it's open 24 hours -- a win-win in his mind. And now Beckford gets to show off the results (and his dance moves) with the rest of the Chippendales gang.
"When the guys come off they're breathing heavy, they're smiling -- it's a good workout," said Beckford. "It's a good way to stay in shape -- dancing...It's a high-intensity cardio routine. It's a 70-minute show, so you're getting all of that in. In between that, they're backstage...lifting the weights...I've done that for plays before, so I understand...We have 20 different routines...It's intense. It moves fast."
Beckford is glad to say that the show's not cheesy -- it's "very respectful," he points out. "The woman that come and see it, they love it," he added. "We get them all riled up, send them out on the streets of Vegas," said the actor/model.
Beckford has also been working on his dance skills for an upcoming feature film called "Chocolate City," about a college student changes in an instant when he meets the owner of a male strip club who convinces him to give amateur night a whirl. Co-starring Carmen Electra, Ginuwine, Michael Jai White and Vivica A. Fox, the movie appealed to Beckford right from the start.
"As soon as I read the script I fell in love with it. I said, 'I've never done anything like this.'...I saw 'Magic Mike' and I thought that the script was all over the place with that one, but the dancing was great. And I like to dance, so I was attracted to that," said Beckford.
Beckford, who has walked many a runway and starred in countless Ralph Lauren ads and music videos throughout his career, said he loves acting and is grateful for the part in "Chocolate City."
"I went to acting class for at least 12, 15 years and I've been waiting for these moments, for these films to come out. I started with 'Zoolander' and worked my way up," said Beckford. "I've been waiting for this day to happen, these movies to come out, these opportunities to show what I really can do."
And about that 40-something thing? Beckford is embracing his age.
"It's almost like you're waiting for the world to notice your talent," he said.