There are very few rooms in Hollywood where Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson feels like the new guy. But on a Wednesday afternoon in Beverly Hills, he was celebrating a true career first: a Golden Globe nomination , for his lead role in the drama The Smashing Machine .
“It feels like a new chapter. It feels like a new life,” Johnson told me as awards season officially got underway. “And it feels great.”
For an actor who has spent decades shape-shifting across careers — from WWE superstar to box office force — the nomination landed less as validation (though that part is nice) and more as an invitation to keep taking risks. Johnson says the film wasn’t made with awards in mind, but as a personal creative challenge, one that required him to push beyond what felt comfortable.
“There’s a voice we all have,” said the 53-year-old actor, who is up for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama. “You may be comfortable in the spot you’re in, but go be uncomfortable. That thing is scary — go run toward it. It’s OK if you don’t know what the outcome is going to be, because you did something that you did for you.”
