It’s a long way from football and wrestling to the world of family movies, but Dwayne Johnson has made the leap successfully, reports Steve Pratt.

OLYMPIC medal-winning swimmer Johnny Weissmuller did it as Tarzan, but sportsmen who attempt to become movie stars don’t usually stay the course. Dwayne Johnson is the exception, a former football and wrestling star who is carving a niche in Disney family movies.

The latest, Race To Witch Mountain, reunites him with director Andy Fickman with whom he made Disney’s The Game Plan.

So why has Johnson, formerly known as The Rock, been successful where others have failed? A natural ease in front of the camera plays a key part, so does an ability to connect with his audience.

He is reluctant to hand out advice to would-be actors among today’s sporting stars, but does relate what served him.

“That was trying to find the best material I possibly could and make it better,” he says on a trip to London for the UK premiere.

“I was encouraged to bring that same tenacity and relentless drive that you have to have to make it in sport – and then apply that in acting.

“So, to me ten years ago when I got into acting, it was important to me to become a good actor. I also knew I had to commit myself, I had to solely focus on one thing and try to work with good directors. You have to take that drive and cross over.”

That includes putting aside any ego you might have when working in Disney films, which invariably in his case involves acting with children and dogs.

“Regardless of how good your performance might be, if you’re in a scene with a dog then pretty much all eyes are on the dog,” he points out.

Race To Witch Mountain is a fresh take on a Seventies Disney movie of which he was a fan. He was ten or 11 when he first saw the film. “It captured my imagination because these kids in the original were empowered and they had these really cool powers and were doing a lot of cool things.

“Every time you empower children, it’s pretty exciting. I love it that they’re using these powers for good. I also like that they’re the ones that make me become a better man in the film.”

Coincidentally, he and his seven-yearold daughter had been watching the original Escape To Witch Mountain only a few weeks before director Andy Fickman called and suggested the reimagining of the movie.

“It was very easy for me to sign up – the idea of working with Andy again, of teaming up with Disney again to make a big family adventure kind of movie,” says Johnson.

Now he could be moving to a different stage, quite literally. He says he understands Witch Mountain co-star Ciaran Hinds’ love for theatre.

He spent six years on the wrestling stage in front of 23,000 people and with an audience of that size he had to learn quickly.

“If you’re halfway smart, you can listen to the audience and really learn a lot. That, for me, was a great platform.

“The opportunity to work in the theatre would be fantastic. Andy and I have been talking about it recently, so I’m sure it will come up,” he says.

■ Race to Witch Mountain (PG) opens in cinemas tomorrow.