WWF and Walt Disney star The Rock loves Benny Hill and UB40 and sings a song for the Sunday Mercury

Apr 12 2009

“We did a pay per view at the NEC,” says Dwayne. “The UK has the most polite fans, so thankful and grateful. Everyone says ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ and I appreciate that.

“What was important for me when I was wrestling during that six-year period was always to infuse and inject humour. I turned it into a comedy monologue every night.

“That was my stage for stand-up comedy and my theatre, too.

“Coming to Britain was a challenge because I always heard: ‘Well, the comedy’s a bit different over there’.

“But when I saw Benny Hill. I thought: ‘Well, that’s funny for me!’”

Dwayne has a seven year-old daughter, Simone Alexandra Johnson, by Dany Garcia whom he ‘friendly’ divorced in 2007 after exactly 10 years of marriage.

Because he still remembers the magic of childhood, Dwayne has set up The Rock Foundation to help disadvantaged and terminally ill children.

“The idea of entertaining intrigued me from the time I was eight years old,” he adds.

“My goal back then wasn’t necessarily to be an actor, but the idea of entertaining, whether it was comedy, dancing, singing or whatever was very intriguing to me.”

Relaxing on the sofa of an exclusive London hotel, Dwayne exudes relaxed charm and an easy-going bonhomie – but what really upsets him?

“Arrogance gets my goat,” he says. “People who are ungrateful get my goat.

“And anytime a man puts his hands on a woman, or a child, gets me angry.”