Interview

Right: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson at the Rampage Premiere at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles in Larger than life April 2018 With billion-dollar box office hauls and adoring fans in every corner of the globe, movies. While the eighth installment Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson swapped WWE for a shot at Hollywood with – The Fate of The Furious – topped ease and aplomb – or at least he makes it look that way, writes Harold von Kursk the billion-dollar mark at the box- office, Johnson recognised that his recurring role as FBI agent Luke ith unbridled positivity note to his legions of social media a name for myself that one day Hobbs had begun to outstrip that of that is as much a part of followers which now number more could lead to Hollywood.” his Furious co-star Vin Diesel. Whis image as his massive than 140 million. “Don’t ever forget But it wasn’t a smooth ride. “Audiences loved the biting physique, has where you came from,” he wrote. At the beginning, he faced constant kind of chemistry between Hobbs morphed into one of the world’s “I was evicted at 14 years old rejection and even ridicule from and Shaw in the Furious films,” most popular celebrities. and completely broke by 23. Every casting agents who had a hard time Johnson said. Having overcome poverty, day I wake up as if that eviction figuring out a niche for the hulking “So we thought it would be great a career-ruining injury and a notice is right around the corner ex-wrestler. Johnson had to keep to make a film where we could really depression that left him “crying waiting for me, which is why I always knocking on doors and it wasn’t until exploit that chemistry. We sat down by myself on my sofa and feeling say, ‘the wolf is always scratchin’ 2010 and his starring role in with Universal [Studios] and said, that my life was finished”, Johnson at the door’. He’s scratchin’ cause The Tooth Fairy that he began ‘Okay, this is the right opportunity reinvented himself as a wildly he’s hungry and never satisfied. We to gain a greater measure of and this feels like the right creative popular wrestler known as The embrace and respect our past (even recognition for his comic gifts and inroad. Now let’s go make a great Rock. Then he parlayed that if it was f---ed up), but we never let engaging personality. movie that the world will enjoy.’” notoriety into a movie career that it define our future. Let’s stay hungry “Half-Samoan and half-black, That is the kind of spirit that has seen him become Hollywood’s and chase that greatness.” it wasn’t as if there was a blueprint Johnson brings. And it’s not an top action star. That single-minded pursuit I could follow,” Johnson observed. act. Anyone who has ever heard This summer, the 47-year-old of success is what has guided “But you don’t let yourself get Johnson speak in person cannot fail Johnson has upped the ante yet him to the kind of career enjoyed discouraged by that. You keep to be impressed by his charismatic again with his new film, Fast & by another muscle-bound, on fighting and waiting for the élan. He knows how dark the world Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, former bodybuilder – Arnold next opportunity.” can look when one hits rock bottom, starring Johnson alongside Jason Schwarzenegger who was Dwayne’s Johnson has done exactly that. and he wants his fans to take solace Statham and Idris Elba. On one idol. In the year 2000, however, After establishing himself as an and inspiration from the way he Hollywood Saturday afternoon Johnson began his Hollywood quest action hero in G.I. Joe Retaliation bounced back. in mid-July, thousands of fans with only his pro-wrestling persona [2013] and Hercules [2014], “Fortunately I had some good gathered on the famous Boulevard as his calling card. the latter of which was a mild friends who helped me regain my to greet Johnson at the film’s world Armed with the same kind of disappointment at the box-office, spirit and confidence and I swore to premiere. True to form, he arrived innate self-belief and bravado that his bankability soared after latching myself that I would never feel sorry on the red carpet in an old, battered propelled Schwarzenegger and onto the last four Fast & Furious for myself again. I decided that tow truck which is consistent with Sylvester Stallone to studio stardom I was going to look at life in the his down-to-earth mantra of never in the 80s, it was Johnson’s turn to most positive and optimistic way forgetting his humble origins. take up their mantle. “It was always possible and try to help other people Following a 2016 Forbes article my dream to be an actor”, he said. “I MADE A VOW AND feel that they can accomplish their which was the first time Johnson “Watching Rocky changed my A PACT TO MYSELF dreams too.” was ranked as the highest-paid life and that (Stallone) character THAT I WASGOING TO Over the last 25 years, he has UNDERSTAND THE actor on earth with $65m in annual became my role model. I got into BUSINESS FROM TOP never wavered from that philosophy. earnings – he ranked 2nd in 2018 wrestling because that was TOBOTTOM” His implacable self-confidence is at $124m – he was quick to take a family tradition and thought it what made him persevere in spite DWAYNE JOHNSON to Instagram to offer a cautionary would be a good way of making of the ridicule and rejection that ➤

14 Upward Curve October-December 2019 Interview

emotional level. I’m a very emotional guy and I had a lot of problems “SUDDENLY I HAD earlier in my life when I tried to A CHANCETO BECOME hide that. But after going through THE FIRSTPERSON IN a divorce I knew that I had to MY FAMILY TOGO TO COLLEGE. I become a more open and vulnerable BECAMEOBSESSED man and that kind of thing has also WITH MAKING IT” not only made me a much better DWAYNE JOHNSON man but a much better actor.” Everywhere that Johnson goes, fans flock towards him. I think audiences are able to sense He loves to engage with people something about me and that I can directly and impart any wisdom be just as vulnerable as I can or encouragement that might be tough.” resonate with those who have Johnson credits football and come to identify with his personal a passion for body-building for ardour and uplifting sensibility. giving him self-belief and helping He believes that it’s his emotional him carve out a new identity that side that that has allowed him to he says “is the basis for everything connect with the public in such a I’ve accomplished.” As a young powerful way. boy growing up in Hawaii, Dwayne “When you’re not afraid of your had several brushes with the feelings and worries and being able law and difficulty dealing with to express yourself to the people authority. His father and grandfather greeted his first attempts to gain terms and where he would not be you love it just transforms you in so were professional wrestlers, and a foothold in the film industry. seen as one-dimensional. many great ways,” Johnson says. their brand of violent bravado “I always knew I had the ability “I wanted to build my own little “You begin to enjoy your own filtered into Johnson’s belligerent to draw people towards me and empire, but I also worked very hard spirit and everything about yourself personality and bad attitude. After create a bond with the public... to become an actor and find films that allows you to connect with his family relocated to Bethlehem, [but] trying to find work in where I could reach people on an the people you love just as Pennsylvania, Johnson enrolled ➤ Hollywood, I had that scratch and claw mentality where you just keep pushing and fighting until you get one job, then the next, and keep moving forward,” Johnson recalled. “When I first got into the business, I made a vow and a pact to myself that I was going to understand the business from top to bottom. I really wanted to be a sponge and I didn’t give a [damn] if it was overwhelming. Bring it on. I got one shot at this.” Johnson envisioned the day when he might one day become a Hollywood legend on his own

Above: Tyrese Gibson with Dwayne Johnson at the premiere of Furious 7 Right: Johnson on set with actress Carla Gugino filming earthquake disaster movie San Andreas in 2015

October-December 2019 Upward Curve 17 at Freedom High School where for yourself, football is the vehicle.’ Entertainment in Fort Lauderdale That woman is his girlfriend of he was a regular visitor to the Suddenly I had a chance to become with , his long-time 14 years, Lauren Hashian. They live principal’s office. One day Johnson the first person in my family to go manager, ex-wife, and childhood together in Los Angeles with their decided to take advantage of the to college. I became obsessed with sweetheart with whom he has four-year-old, Jasmine, and urinal in the teachers’ lounge. After making it.” a 17-year-old daughter, Simone. one-year-old, Tiana. a run-in with Jody Cwik, the football Johnson fell in love with They stayed close after a divorce in A committed father, Johnson coach, who told the already hulking the game and earned a college 2008 and she remains his closest also wants his children to be student, “You need to get the fuck scholarship to the University of professional confidante. proud of their father’s Polynesian out of here,” Johnson paid no heed Miami where he played defensive “His drive isn’t any different ancestry. That’s why Johnson is as he took his time washing his end. But several knee injuries than when I met him when he was eager to begin work next year on hands before leaving. that required surgery took its toll 18 years old,” said Garcia. The King, acclaimed director Robert But Cwik’s voice and stern on him and he wound up signing “He was born that way. He’s Zemeckis’s planned historical drama manner reminded him of his with the Calgary Stampeders of going to die that way, if he ever dies. about Hawaiian King Kamehameha. Samoan elders who “would beat Canadian Football League after But he’s always had this level of (Johnson’s mother is of Samoan your ass if you didn’t show the going undrafted by the NFL. He was excitement to do more. Like, descent, his father is a Canadian proper respect”. cut from the squad after only two ‘What else can we bring?’” from Nova Scotia). The film would “I apologised for being such months, however, effectively ending Their production company be the fulfilment of yet another of a punk,” Johnson recalled. his pro football career, and forced recently produced the low-budget Johnson’s dreams, Several years “I didn’t want to be that kid. to go back to Florida and stay at film, Fighting With My Family, ago, he was honoured by Samoa He shook my hand and wouldn’t let his parents’ home in Tampa. All he revolving around a young woman’s and named a High Chief, a title go. Crushing handshake. And he had to show for his life was a bag attempt to break into pro wrestling his grandfather Peter Maivia looked in my eyes and said, ‘Son, of clothes and $7 in his wallet. That in which Johnson has a supporting once held. I want you to come out and play was also the beginning of Dwayne role. The movie grossed an “That’s the highest title football for me.’ That was the day Johnson’s resurrection. impressive $40m earlier this year, you can have bestowed on you everything changed.” Today, Johnson runs his own and is merely a harbinger for more by the king. Coach Cwik sat me down and film company named Seven Bucks projects that Johnson would like to “Fifty thousand people were said, ‘Listen, your family doesn’t develop from scratch. gathered for the ceremony which have any money. Your grades are Above left: Johnson with his “I always say that the audience was very long and very spiritual. average. If you’re going to get out of daughter, Jasmine Above right: is my only boss, other than my “It was an amazing day and this town and make a different life With his Samoan mother, Ata lady at home.” experience for me.” ■

18 Upward Curve October-December 2019