I think we can all agree that Dave Bautista has already established himself as one of the finest actors in Hollywood and despite his impressive box office resume, the 53-year-old star is more interested in taking on roles that would get to showcase his acting chops.
Speaking with GQ, the multi-time WWE champion looked back on his decision to leave the world of professional wrestling and try his luck in Hollywood. According to Big Dave, during his WWE tenure, he always felt like he was getting passed over while his wrestling contemporary John Cena was being given acting opportunities.
He said: "John Cena and I were both headlining shows. I was [the face of] SmackDown. He was Raw. But he was being used in [WWE-produced] films and television commercials and magazines, and I was just headlining shows."
"In fact, there was one point where he was off making a film and I was headlining both sets of shows and the pay-per-views. It was just a feeling of, 'We’re not getting equal opportunities.'"
When he was finally able to break into Hollywood, Bautista knew there would be comparisons to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson who also transitioned from wrestling to acting but he made it clear that he didn't want to follow in his footsteps and wanted to be taken seriously as an actor.
Seemingly throwing shade at Johnson's career path, Dave said: "I never wanted to be the next Rock. I just want to be a good f***ing actor. A respected actor."
Also Read: Dave Bautista Hailed by Rian Johnson as Greatest Wrestler-Turned-Actor Ever
It's amazing how Bautista betted on himself and was brave enough to take a different path. His dedication and commitment to his craft are unparalleled and it's no wonder he's lauded by the people within the industry.
Meanwhile, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will hit cinemas on May 5, 2023.
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