According to Johnson, several people, including relatives and friends, advised him to "stick to wrestling" upon announcing his acting aspirations. One of his initial roles was in the 2001 film The Mummy Returns .
At one time I wasn't an actor, at one time I was a pro wrestler. I was suplexing 300-pound men around the ring, but I wanted more. I loved what I did, and the world of pro-wrestling afforded me a great life… But in the spirit of wanting more, I said, "Ok, I want to expand, and I want to grow. What does Hollywood look like for me? And what can I offer Hollywood? What kind of actor can I be? In the beginning, there were a lot of people in my life, people who were influential in my life who said, 'I think you should stick with wrestling'. They said, 'You'll make a couple of movies, and then you'll probably just be spit out of the machine'. So I took a risk, and you have got to take risks, you have to.
Johnson emphasized the importance of self-belief in pursuing new ventures.
For folks out there reading this, you've got to bet on yourself. You have to, because no one else will.
The 54-year-old actor also reflected on his mindset regarding personal growth, stating that he never wanted to feel complacent with his achievements, finding comfort to be unsettling.
It scared me to think that I might get too comfortable, and I don't want to be comfortable. You've seen it, when people get the thing they wanted to accomplish, and they just get comfortable. Before you know it, 20 years have gone by, and they're still just comfortable. I used to be scared of that. I'd say 'I don't want to be comfortable, I don't want to feel like I have arrived. But within the past year, with the things I've been studying and practising, I've realised I love arriving. I love being present in whatever I'm doing. To be present at the thing I've arrived at and enjoy it. Hopefully, people will like the thing I've just put out, whatever that is, and then I'll move on to the next thing.
Johnson is set to appear next in the live-action remake of Moana, reprising his role as Maui, a character he previously voiced in the animated version of the film.
