Dave Bautista is, to me, a former wrestler and character actor who bummed around in smaller roles for a while, just waiting for a bigger break. I’m sure other people feel differently – he was a huge deal in the wrestling world, and his entrance into Hollywood came with that built-in fanbase. If he wanted to, Bautista probably could have done five C-list stand-alone action franchises by now, but he’s chosen to go for more supporting roles with in A-list productions. Thus, he was part of the James Bond franchise (Spectre), part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, part of Dune and now part of the ensemble mystery Glass Onion. He’s got a bigger role in M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin too. All of which means that Dave Bautista actually executed a well-considered plan for his Hollywood career. Bautista covers the latest issue of GQ Hype and he talks about that, why he lost all of his money and had to rebuild, and how he’s addicted to acting now. Some highlights:
He’s not the next Dwayne Johnson: “I never wanted to be the next Rock. I just want to be a good f–king actor. A respected actor.”
He was a bouncer for more than a decade: “I bounced all night, I worked out, I went to sleep. That’s what I did for ten-plus years.” And then, one fateful Christmas in the late ‘90s, Bautista discovered he couldn’t afford presents for his two daughters. “I had to go to a guy I worked for at a club and ask him if I could borrow money. I was so ashamed of myself that I said, ‘I can’t do this anymore. I gotta find something.’ I didn’t know what the f–k to do. I had no education. I had nothing to fall back on. And I was f–king desperate.”
He left WWE in January 2010 to become an actor. Up to that point in his career, Bautista says, he “couldn’t have cared less about acting. I felt like I was coming into my own as a wrestler. I loved it. I couldn’t get enough of it.”
He lost all of his money trying to pursue an acting career: “I lost everything. I had to start all over.” That meant heading to LA to work with an acting coach, and appearing in a couple of pride-swallowing direct-to-DVD movies just to get his reps in. Not too many, though, per advice from an old friend. “Before I left WWE, Stone Cold Steve Austin pulled me aside and said, ‘You’re going to get offers for horrible scripts. The money will be tempting. Don’t get caught in that trap.’” So, even when he could hardly afford to do so, Bautista insisted on being “picky and choosy” about the projects he appeared in.
Months of auditions for Guardians of the Galaxy & then he finally got the call: “I had to pull over because I was crying so hard. I turned right back around and walked into my house shaking to tell my wife I had gotten the role, and we were both standing there freaking out.”
Now he’s obsessed with acting: “I’m obsessed with it. It’s this puzzle that I can’t figure out. You don’t know if it’s right, but sometimes it feels right. I don’t get those moments a lot, but every once in a while I do. And f–k, to me, there’s nothing like it. It’s a natural high. It’s an addiction.”
Knock at the Cabin: “It’s by far the most I’ve ever spoken in a film. Just huge pages of monologues. We were shooting on film, which is very expensive. And we were shooting with one camera, so you don’t have the luxury of edits. It’s your only opportunity—you need a perfect take. It’s a lot of pressure. I want to remember my dialogue, but not at the expense of losing the emotion of the scene.”
Saying goodbye to his Marvel character: “I’m so grateful for Drax. I love him. But there’s a relief [that it’s over]. It wasn’t all pleasant. It was hard playing that role. The makeup process was beating me down. And I just don’t know if I want Drax to be my legacy—it’s a silly performance, and I want to do more dramatic stuff.”
He wants to master his craft, not burnish his brand: “Honestly, I could give a f–k [about being a movie star]. I don’t live a great big glamorous life. I live here in Tampa. I don’t care about the spotlight, I don’t care about fame. I just want to be a better actor. I want respect from my peers. I don’t need accolades—I really don’t, man. It’s about the experience, about knowing that I accomplished something.”
Yeah, so I came out of this interview genuinely liking him and wishing him well? It’s remarkable to think of his journey – from bouncer for a decade, then starting a pro wrestling career in his 30s, to leaving that behind IN HIS 40s to start his acting career. Then having the patience to wait for the role which he knew would be his big break. Directors seem to love him too – it feels like he’s not a drama queen about anything, he comes in and works and takes his craft seriously without being a dick about it.
Cover & IG courtesy of GQ Hype.
He’s one of those people where I’m sure I’ve heard his name, but didn’t really know who he was or what he did. I first saw him in Glass Onion and thought he was great in his role. Wishing him a great future and hope to see him in more movies.
He was in Blade Runner 2049 and though not a big role was really interesting. His work there was why he got cast in Dune. Denis is the director on both and apparently loved working with him and had him on his list for Dune for years.
This guy is a cutie inside and out.
I’m calling it…ocne he gets his rom-com (and I guarantee someone is pitching that atm) he’ll get People’s sexiest man.
He is delightful! I had a huge crush on him in Guardians (weird?). Jason Momoa had the same hurdle, proving he can talk, and he made it! Bautista can talk and has acting skill, he’s going to do great.
There’s something about him that’s so inherently likable. You can’t help but want him to succeed and that’s refreshing in this industry.
Agreed! I see even bigger things in his future, and he deserves all of it. Seems like a geuinely good dude (also: dirty hot, dont @ me hahahaha)
There was a video on IG of his gifting Rian Johnson one of his WWE belts as a thank you after Glass Onion and you could really tell the crew loved him. It seems like he has a good reputation on set so far, and he came off very grateful and sweet.
He’s seems like a very likable guy. He is probably most famous for his role as Drax the Destroyer in all of the Gaurdian of the Galaxy movies and the Avenger: Endgame movie crossover. He was in Dune with Zendaya, the My Spy movies and the comedic movie Stuber with Kumail Nanjiani which is actually a stupid but funny comedy about a detective who misuses an Uber driver because of a recent eye procedure. I haven’t seen many of his films but he has the ability to be both funny and a tough guy with ease.
Seems like a good guy. Every time I think of the lines: “Nothing goes over my head. I move too fast. I would catch it.”, it brings a smile to my face. Perfectly delivered. I like that taking care of his family was his motivation and I hope he does well. Still not getting Apple TV, movies, whatever, +, I’m done signing up for services, to watch his new movie but I hope everyone that does have that subscription watches it and supports someone that seems to be a genuinely nice person.
I thought he was really good in Glass Onion. I only knew him from Guardians and had no idea about his WWE past. But thank God he knew to get out of that sooner rather than later. It’s horrible to hear about aging Wrestlers who stay too long. And all the injuries that come with it. And no real care is given to retired wrestlers after they leave the WWE.
I would love to see him in a rom-com and thank god he took Steve Austin’s advice. And he didn’t end up in some direct-to-video mess like some of Hulk Hogan movies. Sometimes it’s better to be a small fish in a big pond.
Thank for this article. He has described the reason to pursue acting as a vocation.
I hope he continues to strive for excellence and success in his craft.
Saw him giving a tv interview for his latest movie and he came across really well. Never really noticed him before but he was sweet but serious about the acting thing. Made me want good things for him.
First off, he’s already better than The Rock, The Rock is always the The Rock, even in Black Adam.
The Rock is charming, not an actor. Dave Bautista is able to become different characters, I like him too and I hope he does get to play different characters.
He has a very unique face and a killer body. I liked him a lot in the Glass Onion.
Get this man in a romantic comedy with Gina Torres immediately.