The charismatic, strong, and clearly ‘on screen’ Dwayne Johnson has made his way to one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars. The larger-than-life character we see in blockbuster movies and millions of social media followers is the one the actor cherishes most: father! In a recent and very personal post, the ‘Moana’ actor shared a moment of his childhood when he realized that he was happiest and most fulfilled when he was a dad to his three daughters.
In an exclusive interview with Esquire magazine, Johnson shared his experience of parenthood, even though he was only twenty-nine years old during the beginning of his journey, and still finding his way in the world. In those early years, the actor welcomed his first daughter Simone, and he was curious to see how it would impact his life and his character. What makes his story intriguing is how it’s told, with him being remarkably candid about the struggles of being a young dad for the first time, and how he was not ready for the role placed on his shoulders.
Johnson shared in the interview that she was just “winging it” and didn’t have a clue what she was doing when she became a parent. This acceptance rings true for thousands of parents who have felt that same way, that same feeling of being put in a situation that is monumental and no one’s ever told you how. His openness about his own tribulations makes him real in a way that his screen roles just don’t, making him more than just some big-screen man who has overcome the same insecurities as any other father.
The thing that is so touching about Johnson’s point of view is that he takes what is bad and makes it good and makes it beautiful and makes it mean something. He said he and Simone “grew up together”, meaning that they had a special bond when a parent is learning about himself while at the same time helping another human being learn about themselves. Those early years, from two to six, were formative years which did need a tremendous amount of love, patience and presence. Johnson admits they are sensitive years, when kids are most in need of their parents’ presence and attention, and for now, he was unsure, but he did still stay in the picture, and they have a great relationship today.
“It’s always been a rule of ours, I always say we grew up together, her and I,” Johnson reflected, and it’s so touching. It’s about the reciprocal development that takes place in the parent-child relationship, that parents are meant to guide and teach their children, and that they learn and grow from their children as well. In this view, it is not the parent’s responsibility to make all the decisions ahead of the birth of children, but instead a process of joint discovery has value.
The now dad to three daughters – Jasmine, Tiana and Simone – shared the warmth he feels towards his daughters in a visible manner with the audience. He told a story of a fun incident that most parents will know: he told his daughters when they can come to him for something that their mom has already declined. “What I also love about being a dad is when their mom says no to something, they know, come to me. Johnson joked, “I’ll show you that I love you more than your mom. It’s a light-hearted observation of something universal about family dynamics, the gentle competition and the ways kids cleverly negotiate different personalities and parenting styles of caregivers.
There’s something serious in Johnson’s jocular comment, which he has brought to, as an indicator of his dedication to fatherhood. He posted one of those heart-wrenching social media posts with the interview, saying, “Sometimes, us men, are still working out and trying to figure ourselves out, and at the same time trying to figure out how to be a great dad to our little babies. This is a statement of the complexity of modern masculinity, the pressure and expectation on men to be confident and competent, and yet have internal doubts. It also counters the assumption that fathers do not care for their children as much, or that they are less emotionally involved, showing instead an image of a man with a lot of emotional labour to do as a parent.
Johnson has consistently stressed his love for being a father throughout the interview, a statement that holds even more significance especially for a man with the success he has had in his career. Note that this is not only a rhetorical ploy or a façade that seeks to portray a certain image. Anyone who has seen Johnson go through the phases of his career will see how he has changed from a struggling football player to a professional wrestler to one of the hottest actors in the world. His fidelity to his daughters has been a constant through all these changes, and a steadying influence in a life that might have been taken up by fame and fortune.
Now Johnson is promoting the live-action version of ‘Moana,’ where he is playing Maui the demigod again. This is a project that is especially important to this actor not only because of the commercial possibilities, but also because it is an opportunity to create a legacy that his daughters can be proud of. The original animated movie was a cultural icon and a film that was a favorite amongst families worldwide for its celebration of Polynesian culture and its empowering message of self-strength. Johnson’s commitment to making that story come to life in a new format reflects his insight into the type of content that’s as always transcended generations and can be appreciated by children and their parents.
