While we're used to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson making us chuckle in whatever blockbusting venture he's recently starred in, it's evident that the so-called "funny people" of the world also have their own set of struggles to contend with.
The 45-year-old actor, who has become known as one of the biggest action heroes in Hollywood, has recently opened up for the first time about his mental health, after admitting that he's struggled with depression for decades.
Speaking to the Express, the semi-retired professional wrestler revealed that he experienced bouts of low moods which began while he was living in poverty as a child. He also confessed that he witnessed his mother, Ata, attempt suicide when he was just 15 years old.
"She got out of the car on the Interstate 65 in Nashville and walked into oncoming traffic," the Scorpion King star said. "Big rigs and cars were swerving out the way. I grabbed her and pulled her back on the gravel shoulder of the road."
Dwayne then disclosed that his mother was in such a state during the incident that she doesn't even remember attempting to take her own life. "She has no recollection of it whatsoever," he stated. "Probably best she doesn’t."
Touching on his own struggles with mental health, the actor revealed that at his "worst point", he reached a level "where I didn’t want to do a thing or go anywhere. I was crying constantly."
And while asserting that both he and his mother eventually "healed", he admitted that there's always further work to be done. "We’ve always got to do our best to pay attention when other people are in pain," he added. "We have to help them through it and remind them they are not alone."
And Dwayne has certainly remained faithful to this latter point. Last year, he reached out to English television presenter, Davina McCall, following her marriage split. Speaking to a columnist from The Sun, he said, "Davina seems like she has a lot of positive energy herself, because saying nice things about others is a big sign that you are confident in yourself. She is going through a difficult time at the moment, so my advice to her is to just keep on going.”
"I’ve been there, I have been in a dark place, and if there’s one thing she needs it is to talk things out, because nobody should be suffering in silence," Dwayne continued. "Talking it through and not going through it alone is half the battle won."
Dwayne is currently expecting his second daughter with long-term girlfriend, Lauren Hashian.
The pair, who have been together since 2007, already have one two-year-old daughter, Jasmine.
Well, Dwayne's frankness is certainly admirable, and we're glad that he sought out the help he needed.
In other news, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson absolutely slams 'Jumanji' critic over bad review...