ATHLETES WHO MADE THE BIG SCREEN SWITCH
DWAYNE ‘THE ROCK’ JOHNSON
The Rock topped Forbes list of highest paid actors last year — his Hollywood run has been so rock solid that he’ll be celebrating a 20-year anniversary next year. Yep, his first acting role was in 2001 in The Mummy Returns.
ANDRE THE GIANT
Andre the Giant walked so that The Rock could run. The late French wrestler will be remembered for his role in The Princess Bride, Rob Reiner’s acclaimed 1987 film. The atypically large wrestler had an excess growth hormone with resulted in gigantism.
JASON STATHAM
Former professional diver Jason Statham plunged straight into the deep end with Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels in 1998, then never came up for air. Statham competed in the 1990 Commonwealth Games as part of Britain’s national diving team.
GINA CARANO
Retired MMA fighter Gina Carano had a rocky start in Hollywood, beginning with straight-to-DVD action drama Blood And Bone in 2009. But she’s been landing much heavier punches since, including Fast & Furious 6 (2013) and Deadpool (2016).
RONDA ROUSEY
You’ve seen her in Furious 7 as Kara and heard her in The Expendables 3 as Luna. But Rousey’s just getting warmed up; last year she appeared in a cameo as flight instructor in Charlie’s Angels and booked a recurring role in drama series 9-1-1.
VINNIE JONES
Like Statham, former Wimbledon footballer Vinnie Jones got his start on the big screen with Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels. Jones has since lodged his foot firmly into Hollywood’s front door, making sure he’s picked as a baddie every chance he gets.
RICK FOX
Formerly of the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, Fox first traded in hoops for scripts with the cringeworthy basketball drama Blue Chips in 1994. Four years later, though, he levelled the score with Spike Lee’s sports flick He Got Game.
DAVE BAUTISTA
No one could have conquered the deadpan humour of Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy quite like Dave Bautista. There’s something about combining hefty muscles with overly literal comedy that works a charm.
TERRY CREWS
He may have gotten his start in the NFL, but Terry Crews has been blitzing his way through Hollywood ever since the sitcom Everybody
Hates Chris put him on the map. Crews has more recently been blessing us as Lieutenant Terry Jeffords on sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
MICHAEL JORDAN
Two words: Space Jam .In this slapstick flick, Michael Jordan plays a Chicago Bulls shooting guard, who gives up his NBA career. Granted, Jordan has never had another mainstream role like that, but Space Jam is legend status.
JOHN CENA
John Cena’s acting career is anything but invisible. From playing a misunderstood bull in the 2017 children’s animation Ferdinand to a fire fighter-turned-babysitter in Playing With Fire, Cena demands to be seen.
DAVID BECKHAM
David Beckham was never short of theatrics on the pitch, so why has he been so reserved with his acting off the pitch? The former English footballer has made a few memorable cameos, most notably in The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.