When the American action actor meets the world press at the film festival in Venice, he says spontaneously:
This feels completely surreal.
Johnson plays the lead role in "The smashing machine", which is about a few years in the life of boxer/wrestler Mark Kerr. These are years that involve victories and defeats, struggles with drug abuse and strains in the relationship with his girlfriend. Benny Safdie has written and directed, Emily Blunt plays Dawn.
During his career, Kerr, who is now 56 years old, went 27 MMA matches. He won 15, lost 11 and one was declared a draw. His technique made him called "the smashing machine". When Johnson, Blunt and Safdie meet the press, Kerr is also present in the audience.
Mark has changed my life. His life, with victories and defeats, that he has pushed himself to try to continue. I'm very glad he's here today, says Johnson.
A love story
The three on the podium agree that "The smashing machine" is actually not a film about fighting in a ring, they mean that it's a love story.
It's about Mark and his struggle, he's happy to be alive, says Dwayne Johnson.
Those who have seen him in, for example, "Fast and furious" movies have a hard time recognizing him behind all the makeup. He also had to gain weight and get muscles he didn't have before.
Then there was his voice. Could I do it? Luckily, I had good friends around me, who constantly encouraged me.
"Living my dream"
Many have noted with surprise that Dwayne Johnson is in a competition film in Venice. He explains that this is where he has long wanted to come, to be taken seriously.
In Hollywood, it's about box office, about how much your movies make. That means you get stuck in a niche, that you do what Hollywood wants you to do. It's hard to get out of it, to know what you can really do. I've had a burning desire for someone to say "you can".
I'm not ashamed of what I've done before, but now I'm living my own dream, not someone else's dream.
Age: 53 years.
Family: Wife Lauren, three daughters.
Lives: In Los Angeles.
Occupation: Actor.
Previous films, selected: "The Mummy - Return", "The Scorpion King", "Welcome to the Jungle", "Walking Tall", "Doom", "The Others", "The Other Guys", "The Fast and the Furious 5-8", "GI Joe: Retaliation", "San Andreas", "Hercules", "Baywatch", "The Fast and the Furious: Hobbs and Shaw", "Jumanji: The Next Level", "Jungle Cruise", "Black Adam".
Current: With "The Smashing Machine" competing at the Venice Film Festival.
