Topics: Film and TV, Celebrity, News, Dave Bautista
Dave Bautista has been called the greatest wrestler turned actor.
Move over John Cena and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
With the release of the thriller Knock At The Cabin, many have marvelled over the four-time WWE champion’s performance.
AV Club writer Matt Schimkowitz said that while the 54-year-old found his footing playing superhero/sci-fi roles, he couldn’t be ‘further’ from where he started.
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He added: “Across his 10 years of moviemaking, Bautista has built a firm foundation of work that culminates in M. Night Shyamalan’s latest one-location pressure-cooker, Knock At The Cabin.
“The movie gives Bautista so much to chew on, with lengthy, emotionally complex monologues that put his wrestling-born mic skills through the wringer.”
He said while it isn’t easy to transition from wrestling to acting, Bautista has cemented himself as a force to be reckoned with.
Schimkowitz continued: “Bautista, however, feels like the first to take acting seriously as something other than a brand extension, revealing new layers of talent with each of his performances.”
He's not alone either, with loads of people praising him on social media.
A spectacular performance that will probably be sadly forgotten by the time next year’s award circuits start picking up. Bautista is the genuine article, time to drop the “wrestler turned actor” label and just start calling him what he is: a fucking great actor. pic.twitter.com/AvLffy704r
— 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥. (@toddthefox) February 5, 2023
Dave Bautista is by FAR the best wrestler-turned-actor. Not even a competition.
— Skye (@CharliMark31) February 6, 2023
Just watched "Knock at the Cabin" and I think it's safe to say Dave Bautista is the best pro wrestler turned actor. Ever. His resume is incredible already. pic.twitter.com/mBCTIWWiws
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) February 4, 2023
Baustisa recently opened up to Business Insider about his most dramatic role yet, admitting he never felt truly confident during production.
He added that at one point, he thought he should merely stick to action films.
“I told Night [M. Night Shyamalan] throughout the shooting, and the editing, that I have so much anxiety about this film and how people are going to receive me. Not the film, me," he said.
“My performance. Because it's just a different light on me and, again, this is where I have to back up what I say, which all along has been that I just want to be an actor. Strip away my physicality, forget that.”
When asked if the actor can finally appreciate his performance after watching the film, he revealed he's still his own ‘worst critic’.
However, if you ask Glass Onion director Rian Johnson about Bautista's acting, he has a different answer.
While the director admitted he initially pictured a scrawny dude for the role of Duke, he’s glad he ultimately cast the Guardians of the Galaxy actor.
He told The Atlantic: "When Bautista was brought up, I was instantly so smitten by the idea. I’ve been a very big fan of his dramatic chops as an actor."
Writer David Sims went on to describe Bautista as 'low-key the greatest wrestler-to-actor ever', to which Johnson replied: "I absolutely 100 per cent agree.”
