Johnson, now 54, reflected on his decision to transition from suplexing 300-pound men in the ring to the big screen. He explained that while he loved professional wrestling and it provided him a great life, he desired more and wanted to expand his horizons.
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?
He recounted the initial skepticism from those around him regarding his acting aspirations.
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. For folks out there reading this, you've got to bet on yourself. You have to, because no one else will.
Johnson also shared his evolving perspective on career satisfaction and complacency. He stated that he previously "never wanted to feel like [he] had arrived" at his goals, fearing it would lead to becoming too comfortable.
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.
He now embraces being present in his achievements and looks forward to new challenges.
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.
Dwayne Johnson is set to appear next in the live-action remake of *Moana*, where he will portray Maui, reprising a role he previously voiced in the animated version of the film.
