Golden Globes 2026: How Dwayne Johnson's Relationship With His Dad Changed After The Smashing Machine

He added, "So through this film, I learned a deeper level of empathy for people who are out there, who are struggling."

The Moana star also explained why else he was drawn to the role, which marked one of the most serious of his career.

"It was really less about showing other people this side of me, and more so doing it for myself and wanting to challenge myself," he said. "I've had this incredible career that I've been so lucky to have—we all work hard, e want to put out the best work, but I wanted something that made me uncomfortable, and I hadn't been uncomfortable in some time."

For the occasion, Dwayne—who is nominated for Best Male Actor, Motion Picture Drama while his costar Emily Blunt is nominated for Best Supporting Female Actor—donned a classic tuxedo, with his wife Lauren Hashian at his side. For her part, Lauren sparkled by her partner's side in a golden gown. (See every star here.)

The Smashing Machine has been hailed as one of Dwayne’s most moving projects to date, with Emily earning equal praise for her portrayal of Mark’s wife Dawn Staples.

Heading into the evening, however, the competition is fierce with Dwayne being nominated alongside Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Oscar Isaac (Frankenstein), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent) and Jeremy Allen White (Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere).

But whether Dwayne leaves the Beverly Hilton with a trophy or no, he’s already a winner through the friendship he and Emily—who previously worked together on The Jungle Cruise—have only further cemented in this more recent collaboration.

And, as Dwayne revealed, their bond paid off from the very beginning of filming.

"Probably the first weekend after the long work week that we had, I began to feel like, 'OK, I think we're on to something here,'" the Fast & Furious star explained to E! News in September. "It helps, obviously, that we've known each other for such a long time. The relationship between Mark and Dawn became cohesive right away."

"It was the most gratifying experience I've ever had in my life and in my career," the 53-year-old shared, before qualifying, "separate from, of course, my babies being born, being a dad."

As for Emily, she described the experience on set as “heaven”—and is still impressed by Dwayne’s transformation into Mark.

The 42-year-old explained, "To see Dwayne come in as Mark for the first time in the camera test and see not just a physical shift, an entire demeanor shape shift—it was spooky to be honest and so exciting."

For more from the Golden Globes carpet, read on. in Stephane Rolland (Russell) and Giorgio Armani (Rhys).

in vintage Jean-Louis Scherrer. in custom Louis Vuitton and De Beers.

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