The Rock talks about the depression that spurred him on to become a wrestler
He battled depression in his early twenties
The Rock himself Dwayne Johnson has spoken candidly about the depression that eventually spurred him on to become a professional wrestler.
After enjoying a successful American football career for four years at university in Miami, while in still his early twenties The Rock was dumped by his team in Canada, the Calgary Stampeders.
Destitute, he found himself living in his parents’ one bedroom apartment and battling chronic depression.
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey's television network, OWN, The Rock offered advice to those also blighted by depression.
"One of the most important things you could realise is that you're not alone. You're not the first to go through it. You're not going to be the last to go through it," he said.
“Often when it happens you feel that you’re alone. You feel like it’s only you.
“You’ve just got to remember, hold on to that fundamental faith. Have faith that on the other side of your pain is something good.”
The Rock went on to explain that after six weeks his coach asked him to return to the team.
"I hung up the phone and my dad said 'You're going to do it, right?' and I said 'No, I don't think so. I think I'm done with that.'"
Despite his dad warning him that he was throwing his career away, The Rock decided to go into wrestling, adding: "It ended up being one of the greatest chapters in my life."
Over the past 16 years, The Rock has starred in over 30 movies including The Mummy Returns, Hercules and the Fast & Furious franchise.