Dwayne Johnson has made a painful revelation after pictures of him appearing radically different for a new role went viral.
The actor, who is now 53 years old and used to be a WWE superstar, is currently appearing in the biographical sports drama The Smashing Machine as the famous MMA fighter Mark Kerr.
At the Venice Film Festival, Johnson’s portrayal in the role has already generated substantial interest, with many complimenting his dedication to authenticity in conveying the complex character.
Johnson plays a man in the movie who, as he puts it, is a “walking contradiction.” At the event, Johnson noted that Mark Kerr was once the best boxer in the world, but he was also kind, soft, compassionate, and understanding.
This character is very different from the big ones he usually does, and fans are noticing not just how much he changes in his acting but also how much he changes in his body.
Fans are shocked by The Rock’s new look. Pictures from the Venice red carpet show that he has lost a lot of weight.
The bulging muscles that had been his trademark for years are gone. Johnson now has a toned, athletic body that is better suited for the position of an MMA fighter.
Reports say he has lost around 60 pounds and currently weighs about 240 pounds.
Johnson looked thinner because he changed his diet and workout routine completely.
Men’s Health says that he switched from his regular intense bulking regimens to a low-sugar, high-protein diet, along with exercises that emphasize on endurance and grappling practice.
The results have shocked people, and many have said how different he appears now. Some have even jokingly called him “The Pebble” instead of “The Rock.”
But The Smashing Machine isn’t only about changing your body. Johnson also had to look deep into his own life for the role, especially his relationship with his father, the late Rocky “Soulman” Johnson.
Johnson said at the festival that he couldn’t use his father’s example as inspiration, even though Mark Kerr is a very sympathetic figure.
He said, “I don’t think my dad was an inspiration because he was so kind.” It wasn’t truly my father. He was homeless when he was 13, so he couldn’t love too much. That’s the man who reared me.
Dwayne and his dad have not spoken since Christmas Eve 2019, when they had a “huge fight.” This was the time of Rocky’s death in 2020.
Johnson wrote a heartfelt tribute on Instagram about his father’s death, saying he wished they had worked out their differences before he died.
Johnson stated, “Man, I just wish I could hug him one more time, kiss him on the cheek, look him in the eyes, and say, ‘We’re good.'” That other stuff? You know it doesn’t matter when they’re gone, especially when they’re gone.