Dwayne Johnson is already getting loads of reward for his efficiency in The Smashing Machine. It’s fairly a great distance from any form of efficiency that we’ve seen from him, a critical and dramatic portrayal of former UFC fighter Mark Kerr. Nevertheless, whereas it could be probably the most difficult function of his profession, he says it was additionally a component that he utterly understood.
Mark Kerr was a UFC champion, and Dwayne Johnson grew to become a WWE champion, however the factor that actually related the 2, because the actor tells EW, is the thought of preventing and failing to attain desires. The Rock mentioned…
I’ve been ready for this chance to problem myself in ways in which I would not been challenged earlier than, to essentially simply rip myself open as an actor. What I used to be in a position to join with in Mark is while you need one thing so badly and you may do something to get it, however the factor you need so badly simply would not occur. That occurred for me: I assumed I used to be going to be knowledgeable soccer participant, going to the NFL.
Dwayne Johnson performed soccer for the College of Miami and would go on to play within the Canadian Soccer League for a couple of years, however he by no means achieved his NFL dream. This was a minimum of partially as a consequence of a shoulder harm he obtained in his freshman yr of school.
Johnson had put loads of important expectations on himself. An NFL profession was going to be the factor that modified issues for each him and his household. He admits that when that success didn’t come, he went by way of some emotional difficulties. He continued…
That was going to be the factor that was going to permit me to purchase my mother and father their first residence, since we lived in trailer parks and residences. Relating to that sort of stuff, you get one shot, and that by no means occurred for me. I needed to transfer again in with my mother and father at 22 or 23, and I used to be simply spiraling at the moment.
Having a dream of shopping for your mother and father a home, solely to have to maneuver again in with them after the dream fails, would definitely be a blow, and it seems like Johnson had some actual struggles following that. Whereas he would definitely go on to success anyway, The Rock says he used these emotions whereas portraying Kerr. He additionally credit his co-star and good friend, Emily Blunt, who performs Kerr’s girlfriend, for serving to him work by way of the sentiments. Johnson mentioned…
I lastly had a spot to place all this, as a result of I am not likely a remedy sort of man. And so that you additionally must have anyone who you belief in these scenes, and there was nobody I belief greater than Emily. All of us dove in, and the expertise modified my life.
Processing one’s emotions, nonetheless it is completed, is definitely a great factor, and it seems like Johnson now appears like he’s in a greater place personally, having made The Smashing Machine. Whereas he has discovered unbelievable success and has been referred to as the most well-liked actor on this planet earlier than, it appears he nonetheless hadn’t absolutely overcome these outdated emotions.
Dwayne Johnson clearly challenged himself with The Smashing Machine, not simply by taking up a uncommon dramatic function, however in being prepared to discover his personal vulnerabilities.
You’ll see this efficiency when The Smashing Machine premieres on the 2025 film schedule on October 3.