10 Movie Actors Who Only Played By Their Own Rules

4. The Rock - Creating His Own Niche After Failing To Fit Into The Industry

The Spirit Samuel L Jackson
Universal Pictures

Despite now being seen as one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, it wasn't always plain sailing for Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in the land of Hollywood.

Early into his acting career, Johnson claimed that the mood turned "icy", with many people claiming that his time in front of the camera would be up after a few features. Some even advised him to drop some weight in order to fit into the mould of other top stars around him. Without any other half black/half Samoan names who came from the pro wrestling world in the industry to inspire him, Johnson realised after "seven to eight years" that he "was done trying to conform to Hollywood." He then decided that "Hollywood was going to work for (him)."

Soon after this epiphany, the former WWE Champion witnessed the industry begin to shape around him and before long he was starring in everything from the Fast & Furious franchise to Disney's Moana, bringing his one-of-a-kind energy and charisma to every distinct role.

With a number of franchises under his belt and now sitting pretty as the most followed American man on Instagram, it's fair to say The Rock has played the Hollywood game his own way and won.

Contributor
Contributor

Lifts rubber and metal. Watches people flip in spandex and pretends to be other individuals from time to time...