Entertainment

Fame has been an interesting thing for Dwayne Johnson. The man who some affectionately know by his wrestling name of "The Rock" has managed to find a successful career path in film. While many would argue that professional wresting has a lot of acting to it, there's no denying Mr. Johnson's star quality in whatever he does. With his broad smile, chiseled good looks and alluring personality, he's found success as a star in the wrestling world, in action and comedy films and even on the Disney Channel. In town to discuss his new film, The Game Plan, which opens today, Mr. Johnson seems genuinely happy to travel from town to town to discuss the movie.

"With the content of this movie – it's such a broad comedy – it brightens energy. It's not dark, political or edgy. It's fun and airy and just lightens the mood wherever I go," he says.

Mr. Johnson's prolific foray into film will continue well into the next two years with Richard Kelly's much-anticipated Southland Tales, Get Smart with Steve Carell and a recently announced "re-imagining" of Escape From Witch Mountain.

Given his success in TV, sports and film, Mr. Johnson, 35, has adjusted to a broad spectrum of fame. He admits: "I'm well-aware of the perception. What never gets old to me is this. We sit down to talk about a good movie. Seeing billboards with my picture on them – that's cool stuff, too. I miss the little stuff like being able to go shopping, but I'll never complain. That's the balance. This comes along with it, and it's non-negotiable."

Here's more from Mr. Johnson:

Has it been hard for people to separate you as "The Rock," the wrestler, from Dwayne Johnson, the actor?

In the beginning, yes. From The Scorpion King to The Rundown , I think it was hard for people to separate the two, because I never made a big production out of retiring. I never wanted to do that. I quietly thanked everybody and quietly rode away into the proverbial sunset. Over time, through performances and hopefully good movies, I think people let it go, and now there's a whole new generation of people who go, "You did what? When?" Especially with little kids and all of the stuff I've done with the Disney Channel. Now it seems like a totally different life in a galaxy far, far away.

As a father, did you feel this would be a good role for you to showcase another side to audiences?

I did. For me personally, I was able to bring a lot to the role, because I have a little girl, and she's 6. I get wrapped around her finger like that and, as a father, you try to find a balance of doing everything you can for your little girl – you make her smile, laugh, but yet you want to teach her the value of work, responsibility, the value of money and things that are so important that get lost on kids today. So for me I wanted to do it when I heard the pitch and then read the draft. I loved the idea of a daddy dealing with these complexities specifically with a girl, because there's a bond between a daddy and his little girl, and you just can't explain it.

While this film is not an action film, you seem to be the front-runner in the genre. Do you see yourself continuing to do the big action films?

I gotta give it to Matt Damon, though. The action genre is tough to pull off these days. You can make The Bourne Ultimatum or you could make Crank. I love Jason Statham, but they're two different types of action films. I think the Bourne series has set the bar. That's the new template. I get a lot of comedies, too, now in addition to the action, but if the action movies are not up to par at that level in quality, I just don't want to do it. I didn't do Walking Tall 2 or The Scorpion King 2, you know? The reason is that I don't let money drive me. If you don't, it enables you to be a little more choosy. If something comes across my desk, and it moves me, we take those little steps forward, and I wait to see if we can get a good director that I can grow with. And hopefully the material will allow me to grow and entertain the audience.