Entertainment

Hercules' Dwayne Johnson describes the darkness before his stardom

Hercules star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson describes how he re-created his life in a candid interview with CBC Arts reporter Eli Glasner.

The 42-year-old actor opens up about overcoming depression and his image

Dwayne Johnson, star of Hercules, on going from darkness into light

10 years ago
Duration 3:02
Hercules star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson admits that overcoming depression helped inspire his desire to become an actor

Dwayne Johnson is Hercules in the eponymous action movie on the Greco-Roman legend.

Like many of his previous movies (Pain & Gain, G.I. Joe: Retaliation) the Hollywood epic required the former WWE wrestler to play up his powerful physical traits. 

But in an interview with CBC Arts reporter Eli Glasner, the 42-year-old actor found a more thoughtful thread to the characters he's chosen to play.

Dwayne Johnson stars in Hercules. The movie opens in theatres July 25. (Paramount Pictures)

"Generally [I play] a man who is gonna trip and he's gonna get back up and he's gonna become better, and in the process of him getting better hopefully he's going to galvanize the people around him into getting better too."

Johnson also revealed that it was his personal struggles with depression that helped him find direction in his own life.

Watch Eli Glasner's interview with Dwayne Johnson in the above video.

Hercules hits Canadian theatres July 25.