ROUND TWO

AFTER SPARKING A FAST FRIENDSHIP ON JUNGLE CRUISE, THE STARS CEMENTED THEIR BOND WITH THE SMASHING MACHINE

- Jennie Noonan

Following in the footsteps of both his dad and maternal grandfather, Dwayne Johnson pursued a career in professional wrestling after a failed run at playing American football.

As “The Rock”, the star’s camera-ready charisma, quotable catchphrases and overly expressive eyebrow saw him quickly become one of the most famous - and bankable - names in WWE history. In the ensuing decades, Johnson, 53, has developed into one of the biggest stars on the planet by prioritising entertainment above all else in action-heavy blockbusters and crowd-pleasing comedies.

With his latest role in The Smashing Machine (in cinemas October 2), he’s checking his movie-star status at the door for the first time to embody real-life former MMA fighter and UFC Heavyweight Tournament champion Mark Kerr.

"I looked around a few years ago and I started to think, 'Am I living my dream or am I living other people’s dreams?'” he revealed during a Venice Film Festival press conference for the biopic on September 1. “You know, you come to that recognition. And I think you could either fall in line and, well, it’s status quo. Things are good. I don’t want to rock the boat or go, ‘You know what? I want to live my dreams now and do what I want and tap into the stuff that I want to tap into.”

In addition to hours of makeup and subtle prosthetics, Johnson, who in the past has been open about his own battles with depression and mental health, is already being singled out as an Oscar contender for his powerful portrayal of Kerr’s personal struggles outside the ring.