Matt Bomer in Magic Mike XXL.

Mention Matt Bomer and you get one of two reactions. Some respond, "Who?" while the rest light up with excitement, declaring the actor the "perfect man".

Reasons range from his chiselled jawline, baby blue eyes and sexy six-pack to his acting talents and dance moves.

Yet the Magic Mike star is oblivious to the label.

"I'm not aware of it and it definitely makes me question those people's senses!" he laughs. "I have a family that keeps me beyond grounded and I think we all look in the mirror and see our imperfections and know how painfully human and flawed we are, so it's definitely not something that crosses my mind."

In fact, though some may view him as perfect, it's his insecurities which prompted the Texas native to take on the role of stripper Ken in 2012's Magic Mike.

The film blew up and Bomer, having already garnered a following with the role of Neal Caffrey on TV series White Collar, saw his star-power skyrocket.

But that didn't make returning to the world of stripping for the film's sequel Magic Mike XXL any less daunting.

"I don't think there's anybody I know who can just stand up there on stage and be more-or-less naked dancing and say, 'I'm totally confident and comfortable about this.' The prospect of getting up there and doing the numbers is always terrifying and that will never change no matter how much success this film has.

"As an artist you're always plagued with doubts and fears and that's what I seek out in roles. There's something therapeutic about roles that terrify you, play on those insecurities and make you figure out a way to get past them.

"If I go, 'Man, there's no way I can do that,' that automatically makes me want that job because I know I'm going to have to get over something in myself or go past what I'm able to see myself doing."

The prospect of working with Channing Tatum and the first film's director, Steven Soderbergh, also appealed to Bomer, 37, who followed up the film with American Horror Story and last year's tele-flick The Normal Heart, about a gay activist campaigning for HIV/Aids awareness in the early 80s.

The role earned him a Golden Globe award, the film's subject a cause close to his heart, having received a Steve Chase Humanitarian award for New Generation Arts and Activism in 2012, for his efforts in the fight against the epidemic.

In his acceptance speech, Bomer thanked husband Simon Hall and their three children, Kit, Walker and Henry, the first public acknowledgement of his sexuality.

Three years later, Bomer's happy to say he gets approached more about his work than his status as a gay icon.

"I love interacting with people and every now and then I'll get a kind comment from somebody saying, 'Thank you for being true to who you are,' That means the world to me.

"But most of the time people just want to talk about roles I've played. That's just as rewarding and progressive as somebody wanting to identify any particular thing I may have done in terms of humanitarian work."

Humanitarian honours and golden statues are a long way from his small-town Texas upbringing, where despite knowing he was gay as a teenager, Bomer felt there was no "safe haven" to speak his mind.

He instead focused on the arts, while "covering my tracks" by playing football, but learned early on he would have to work hard to fulfil his dreams.

"I grew up in a Friday Night Lights-type of town and was taught by my parents really young that you've got to work really hard to achieve anything.

"My mum worked two jobs to help pay for my arts education in college, which I look back on now and go, 'Damn, that was beyond kind, loving, bold and trusting for her to do that!'

"It definitely wasn't without its challenges growing up, but I wouldn't trade that for the world because it only made me a stronger human being.

"So much of what I learned about fame, staying grounded and keeping your priorities in line, in a business where it's really easy for them to get out of line, comes from my family."

His kids are guarded from knowing their famous dad strips on-screen.

"They definitely know that I am in a movie where I am dancing so they're excited about that, but they're not quite old enough to understand it. We'll have to have the Magic Mike talk at some point.

Until then, Bomer likes to mix work, projects, taking on projects he can take his children to watch, such as upcoming animated comedy B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations.

He also stars alongside Kiwi Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in upcoming flick Nice Guy, which was filmed in Australia.

"I love Russell. He's just a brilliant actor and a really majestic individual. And Ryan is just as gracious and incredibly talented. It was so cool to watch them work and watch their process."

• Magic Mike XXL opens on Thursday.