The Rock
Interview and article
On kicking big-time butt, making big-screen love and changing tiny diapers
by Jeanne Wolf (April 15, 2002)
He has prodigious pecs, granite glutes and millions of fans who watch him tear up the ring on TV's Smackdown. Now, Dwayne Johnson, aka the Rock, is determined to be more than a sideshow on the big screen with his new star-making flick, The Scorpion King.
In his first movie appearance for The Mummy Returns, he didn't get to talk, and much of his body was covered in the guise of a multiclawed monster. But don't worry, the Rock is in full-oiled splendor in the new prequel, and we're here to tell you those muscles are the real deal.
Chuck Russell, who directed The Scorpion King, reveals how carefully the tactics were mapped out to turn the crowd-pleasing Rock--known for quotable battle cries like "Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?" and his trademark cocking of an eyebrow, usually the prelude to decking an opponent--into a big-screen superstar.
First came the executive decision: There would be only one eyebrow raise in the film. Then there were meetings at the highest level at Universal to determine just which scene would be the one for this famed close-up. Finally, the fateful judgment came: The Rock would strike the pose just as he encounters a bevy of beauties in a harem. Audiences cheer at this pivotal moment.
The adulation has been a long time coming. After playing football at the University of Miami, his dreams of a pro career were dashed when he was passed over by the NFL; he ended up making ends meet by playing on the practice squad for a Canadian-football-league team. Since his father and grandfather were wrestlers, he tried the mat, but he was lukewarm at the WWF for the first year. It wasn't until he invented the Rock character that things exploded.
As the Rock, you've kicked a lot of butt.
Now we're going to see you doing something that may surprise your fans: You're
very sensual on the big screen in your first love scene. Were you nervous?
Let's put it this way: I'd rather hit someone over the head with a chair. I'm
kidding, but I'm always aware that a lot of people aren't really excited to
watch an action guy kiss a girl, for some odd reason. I've felt that way myself
watching action movies, whether it's Arnold, Stallone or Bruce Willis. I see
them kiss the girl, and I go: No! So, that was my concern. But even though I'd
never been in a romantic scene, I'm not afraid to step outside the box. If I
hit a grounder and not a home run on the love scene...well, at least I tried.
How was the big moment with Kelly Hu?
First and foremost, I was worried about making her comfortable, because there
were a lot of guys on the set, and she wasn't exactly fully clothed. So, I was
always cracking jokes. Before we kissed I went, "Here, you need an Altoid.
Take the whole box, please." I was trying to make her feel at ease, and
that took my mind off myself.
It's not surprising that you have a lot
of kick-ass action scenes. Did you try to avoid any of the WWF moves we've seen
on TV?
Absolutely. I felt that if you're going to come and spend your hard-earned money
and see me in 3,000 B.C. as the Scorpion King, then I'm going to keep you in
3,000 B.C. I didn't want it to look like a wrestling match. I was adamant about
that. You won't see me flying off the top rope or anything. But as much ass
as you think I can kick...well, I do more. We went for a Jackie Chan-esque type
of fighting. In fact, we hired Andy Chang, who was Jackie Chan's right-hand
man--his fight coordinator--to choreograph the fight scenes.
Apparently, it got pretty real. Word is
that in your big fight scene with Michael Clarke Duncan, you knocked him out.
[Laughs.] Well, he just mouthed off, and he can't mouth off to the Rock. The
Rock will lay you smack down on your candy ass, and that's exactly what I did.
No, I'm only kidding--we're friends. Michael was a trooper. I did knock him
out, but he got right up and said, "Hey, let's roll. I'm cool."
Did you try to make it up to him?
It's funny, any time an accident happens on the set in a scene with me--if somebody
slips or anything in an action scene--I've got to get them a present. I buy
them a watch. Michael knew this, and he probably would have gotten a Rolex.
But as soon as he got up, he was like, "Okay, where's my watch?" And
I went, "Now you asked for it, so you don't get a watch. Wear your Timex
and be happy."
Even though this is your first big-screen starring role,
you weren't shy about expressing your opinions. You had some strong feelings
about what kind of character you'd be playing, didn't you?
Yes. It's the story of a reluctant hero; he just wants to be himself. But it
was very important to me that he be motivated and driven. He has a dark side.
He's an assassin on a mission to kill for revenge. But in the end, he's also
trying to take control of his life.
Anything in him that Dwayne Johnson shares?
Sure. Wanting to control my own destiny, or at the very least, make my own decisions
in working my way toward that goal. I might get sidetracked, but I'm still going
to try and stay focused and take the next step forward. When I started my wrestling
career, I told myself: I don't want to be the strongest guy or the loudest guy;
I just want to be the best.
We know all those one-liners from the Rock and now the
Scorpion King. What's Dwayne's mantra--something that you use privately to motivate
yourself?
"I'll never, ever be full. I'll always be hungry." Obviously, I'm
not talking about food. Growing up, I had nothing for such a long time. Someone
told me a long time ago, and I've never forgotten it: "Once you've ever
been hungry--really, really hungry--you'll never, ever be full." So, I'll
always be hungry in some way, driven and motivated to get what I want.
Just how tough were those down times?
I was pretty much broke from the time I was 13 years old until probably about
six years ago. So, that's a time I'll never forget. Things I've seen, things
I've been through, I'd like to forget--from evictions to repossessions to sleeping
on a urine-soaked mattress. I mean, that's enough for me, to move and motivate
me.
There has been a huge change in your life.
You've got a new baby [with wife Dany, a financial planner]. I envision a picture
of that little girl lying on that big chest. What has it been like for you to
hold her?
I've done some pretty cool things in my life, and they're nothing by comparison.
It's the greatest thing. When our baby was born, that was by far the greatest
thing I've ever done, hands down.
I'm trying to picture the Rock changing
a diaper.
I change diapers all the time. But my daughter and I have an understanding.
It's like, "Listen you don't poop when daddy changes these diapers. Pee-pee
is okay; no pooh-pooh."
Does having a child change your view of life?
There's such a huge sense of responsibility--you want to protect your baby from
everything. You know, September 11 takes place, and now the Middle East crisis.
I feel like that, indirectly, can affect my baby somehow. I want to make sure
it doesn't. If I get a chance to speak out publicly, I will. You realize nothing
is ever guaranteed in life--nothing. Love is not guaranteed; a relationship
is not guaranteed; success in movies isn't guaranteed. But the one thing that
I can guarantee is I'll always take care of my baby for the rest of my life--that's
it.
You look, as Arnold would say, "ripped
to shreds" in this movie, and, of course, we see that well-toned bod on
WWF. Do you have to work to keep it that way? Don't you ever just pig out?
Oh, you'd be surprised. I watch what I eat, avoiding fried foods and doing lots
of protein, a lot of vegetables, baked potatoes, things like that. But one day
a week, sometimes two days a week, I go on an eating binge--Burger King to Pizza
Hut to Dunkin' Donuts. I'm really bad that way. I have a motto: You have to
treat yourself; don't cheat yourself. And if you can maintain somewhat of a
healthy balanced diet, then you pretty much can afford to take that cheat meal.
Wherever you go, you hear the predictions about you as
the next action hero. It's like the passing of the mantle. How do you take that
in, and what's your goal in fulfilling that dream?
I've always wanted to make my own path and do my own thing. The Rock is different
than Arnold Schwarzenegger. Different than Sylvester Stallone. Those guys have
been wonderfully supportive, by the way, so I'm lucky in that sense. And I always
say about those guys, they've got big shoes, so I don't want to try to fill
them. I'll just make my own path and create my own way. My objective at the
end of the day is just to make sure that the audience, when they leave the theater,
have been thoroughly entertained. That's exactly the same goal I have on Smackdown.
I just want to do my own thing and continue down my own road as the Rock.