The Rock gets dramatic in ‘Gridiron Gang’

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Holiday movie preview
Nov. 27: Newsweek's Ramin Setoodeh chats with the TODAY hosts about this season's hottest holiday movies.

Sophia Loren on return to silver screen

‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’

Meet Tiana, Disney’s first black princess

Danny McBride: 'Up In The Air' Was A 'Fun Challenge'

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December movies
James Cameron’s spectacle “Avatar” hits theaters, along with George Clooney, who is “Up in the Air,” and Robert Downey Jr. as “Sherlock Holmes.”

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AP: Did wrestling help or hinder your acting career?

Johnson: It was a positive step because it allowed me to perform. It allowed me to cultivate a performing sense, because there are still multiple cameras and you still had to work them. It really kept me on my feet in terms of forcing [me] to have a live-crowd acumen. Plus, you’re playing a character. But I will say it became somewhat of an impediment getting in [to acting]. My goal was to become a good versatile actor, but the material was not going to allow me to do that.

AP: Do you think this role completes the transition?

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Johnson: It does complete it. Because this movie is an emotional movie, it’s drama driven, it’s something I can relate to on so many levels. And [I] realize this is where I’m meant to be.

AP: Isn’t your next project football-related, too?

Johnson: I love the game of football. I’m excited about [the film] because it’s a family comedy with Disney so I’m able to take my 5-year-old girl for the first time. It’s called “The Game Plan.” Here’s another story that resonated with me. I play a professional quarterback on his championship run and I discover I have a little 7-year-old girl who calls me Daddy. She completely turns my life upside-down in a way that I don’t understand, but ultimately in a beautiful way.

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