Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson said Monday a “burning desire” to express himself as an actor led him to accept a role in “The Smashing Machine”, which was to premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Best known as a wrestler turned big-budget action film hero, the 53-year-old said he felt there was pressure in Hollywood where the “box office is loud”, and that can “push you into a category and into a corner”.

“I understood that, and I made those movies, and I liked them, and they were fun, and some were really good and did well, and some not so,” said the “Fast and Furious” star, appearing at his first European festival. “I just had this burning desire and this voice that was saying ‘Well, what if? What if there is more and what if I can?’,” Johnson said about the challenge of stretching himself.

On paper, the role in the “The Smashing Machine” was tailor-made. He plays wrestler Mark Kerr, a real-life former pioneering mixed martial-arts fighter at the beginning of this century. But Kerr contrasting with many of Johnson’s previous roles is a flawed and

nuanced character. He is a gentle yet troubled man who battled addiction, and his explosive relationship with his ex-wife Dawn (played by Emily Blunt) forms the core of the two-hour feature by American director Benny Safdie.

 “The film isn’t about fighting. It’s a love story about Mark and Dawn and his relationship,” Johnson said, while also revealing he had had to bulk up for the role at Safdie’s request. While Johnson credited “best friend” Blunt for encouraging him to express himself, Blunt hailed Johnson’s performance.