Dwayne Johnson revealed that he couldn’t draw inspiration from his late father, wrestling legend Rocky “Soulman” Johnson, for his role in the biographical sports drama “The Smashing Machine”.
This admission came during the film’s debut at the Venice Film Festival, where MMA fighter Mark Kerr whose life story the film portrays described Johnson as “a walking contradiction”.
Kerr remarked on the complexity of Johnson’s character, saying he could be “the greatest fighter on the planet, but also kind, gentle, tender, empathetic”.
In response, Johnson acknowledged that he did not find inspiration from his father’s tenderness while preparing for the emotionally charged role.
“I don’t think my dad was inspiration in terms of his tenderness”, Johnson stated at the festival.
He elaborated on his father’s difficult upbringing , noting that Rocky Johnson was homeless by the age of 13, which limited his capacity for love.
Rocky Johnson passed away in 2020, and Dwayne has previously expressed regret over their estrangement at that time. In an emotional Instagram post earlier this year, he reflected, “I just wish that I could hug him one more time. All that other stuff? You realise it just doesn’t matter when they’re gone”.
Dwayne encouraged others to mend strained relationships while they still can, saying “if you’ve got your old man around, get uncomfortable and pull him aside and say, ‘Let’s do our best to kind of squash this.’”.
He concluded by acknowledging the love his father had for him, albeit limited by his own experiences. “My dad loved me with a limited capacity that he could love.
But even with that limited capacity, he loved me with all he had”, Johnson said, emphasising the importance of recognising such love before its too late.
