Los Angeles, Jan 4 (NationPress) Actor Dwayne Johnson faced significant challenges during his youth. His family frequently relocated across the nation, transitioning from urban areas in North Carolina to suburban neighborhoods in Connecticut during his teenage years.

Despite these changes, one aspect remained unchanged: the dysfunction within his family. For the past 26 years of his acting career, Johnson has managed to compartmentalize his emotional pain, channeling it into tough-guy roles in multiple blockbuster films, as reported by 'Variety'.

In an interview with 'Variety', he revealed, “My parents had a tumultuous and explosive relationship. My father was a professional wrestler during a time when the industry was unpredictable. There weren't million-dollar contracts; it was about living paycheck to paycheck and merely trying to get by. My father battled his own addictions while focusing on his aspirations, leaving my mother to raise me alone.”

He elaborated, “She sacrificed her own dreams to support the man she loved, yearning for recognition that she never received. I witnessed the deterioration of their relationship as my father fought his personal demons. The arguments were loud, and I could hear them, which was even more distressing.”

In 2017, Johnson found the courage to explore his past and began working on the life rights of MMA fighter Mark Kerr, whose struggles with drug addiction hindered his career as a two-time UFC heavyweight champion in the late 1990s, according to 'Variety'.

He reflected, “For years, I was unaware that this could serve as a channel for me to process all the trauma I experienced and integrate it into my work. I was probably too afraid to confront it.”

The outcome is A24’s ‘The Smashing Machine,’ which marks a significant milestone in Johnson's career. He immerses himself completely into a character that is both tough and vulnerable, rendering him almost unrecognizable.

Transitioning from professional wrestling to becoming a Hollywood star, Johnson follows in the footsteps of several actresses who have recently showcased profound performances, breaking the stereotype of being defined by their physical appearance, including Demi Moore and Pamela Anderson.

Such opportunities are rare for male actors, but when Johnson approached Benny Safdie in 2019 with the vision of bringing Kerr’s narrative to life on-screen, the director immediately saw Johnson's potential.

Johnson met with both Safdie brothers, yet he emphasizes that ‘The Smashing Machine’ was primarily developed as a solo project by Benny.