Dwayne Johnson is already a household name after 20 years in Hollywood, but it wasn't always like that. The former wrestler turned actor claimed that when he first transitioned into acting, he was advised to emulate actors Will Smith and George Clooney. Johnson had a successful career as a professional wrestler before becoming a movie star, which gave rise to his most well-known moniker to date, The Rock.

Twenty years later, Johnson spoke out about being told to project a new persona in order to succeed in the film industry—something he strongly refused to do. The Jumanji actor shared a video of a mosaic of all of his movies on Instagram at a reflective moment. The mosaic had been made for him by a hotel where he had a meeting.

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He said: "I’ve never seen my movies laid out like this and it was a reminder for me to say thank you guys around the world, you and your families, thank you for the love, the support, the trust that I could deliver my passions. When I first got to Hollywood 20 years ago, I worked my arse off to get here and they told me, ‘look you can’t call yourself The Rock, don’t go to the gym, don’t talk about pro-wrestling. Be like George Clooney, be like Will Smith.’ And I said ‘no I’m not gonna be like those guys I gotta be myself and if I fail at my Hollywood career then at least I fail knowing I was me.’ Now years later I see this [mosaic] all because of you guys, I thank you and I love you. Thank you so much.”

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Johnson had no idea at the time that his decision to stay true to himself would later serve as the catalyst for his success as an actor on a global scale. The Scorpion King, an action film released in 2002 and a sequel to The Mummy series, gave the Red Notice actor his first major main role. He produced well over 50 films over the next 20 years, making his presence unavoidable and unmistakably distinctive. His long list of on-screen jobs includes starring parts in Moana, San Andreas, the action film Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, and the wildly popular Fast and Furious series. In the action, comedy, and thriller genres, Johnson has forged an unstoppable course.

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However, the California-born actor is now slated to play one of his biggest parts to date as emotionally complex anti-hero Black Adam in the upcoming DC Comics epic, which is a genuine testament to his versatility. The character, who is well renowned for his ruthlessness and deep-seated fury, has never been brought to life on film. With so many people anticipating the movie's debut, Johnson may be well on his way to creating his own superhero legacy.