Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said on Monday that a “burning desire” to grow as an actor drove him to take on a role in The Smashing Machine, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
The 53-year-old, famed for blockbuster action roles, admitted Hollywood’s focus on box office success often pushed him “into a category and into a corner”.
“I made those films, I enjoyed them, some did really well and some didn’t,” he said at his first European festival. “But I had this burning voice saying, ‘What if? What if there’s more, and what if I can?’”
In the film, Johnson portrays real-life mixed martial arts pioneer Mark Kerr, a talented but troubled fighter who struggled with addiction and endured a stormy relationship with his ex-wife Dawn, played by Emily Blunt.
“This film isn’t about fighting. It’s a love story about Mark and Dawn,” Johnson explained, adding he had to bulk up for the role at director Benny Safdie’s request.
Blunt praised her co-star’s transformation: “One of the most extraordinary things was seeing him completely disappear. It changed the air in the room.”
Kerr, who also attended the festival, praised Johnson’s portrayal: “It’s almost impossible to describe the detail that went into it. My son saw it and couldn’t believe it.”
The Smashing Machine is competing for the Golden Lion, the festival’s top prize, to be awarded on Saturday.