Dwayne Johnson has spoken about his disappointment after being overlooked by the Academy Awards for his lead role in The Smashing Machine.
The actor played UFC fighter Mark Kerr in the Benny Safdie-directed film, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival last year. It earned a 15.5-minute ovation and the Silver Lion award there.
Johnson told Esquire that the snub “lit a fire in my spine” and motivated him to pursue another strong performance. “It would have been incredible to get nominated for an Oscar,” he said, adding that he wished the nomination had happened but remained focused on future work.
Emily Blunt and Ryan Bader also starred in the A24 movie. Johnson and Blunt received Golden Globe nominations for their performances. Johnson is set to reunite with Safdie on the upcoming film Lizard Music.
