Dwayne Johnson: Advocating diverse cultures on-screen ‘critically important’

Dwayne Johnson: Advocating diverse cultures on-screen ‘critically important’PA Media

Transcript

00:00How important do you feel it is, sort of championing these different diverse cultures on screen?

00:07I think it's critically important to be an advocate for representation and for culture.

00:15I can tell you just by experience with Moana, it's been not only an incredible experience,

00:21but also I think one that brought me closer to my own culture.

00:29And I just said this the other day when I was doing an interview,

00:33you realize regardless of what stage and phase you are in life,

00:38when you're open to learning, every day is a learning lesson for your culture.

00:43Regardless of how much you think you know, or how much has been embedded in your DNA.

00:49So every time I go back home to Hawaii, or speak with my Samoan elders,

00:55or call on my ancestors, you always learn so much.

00:59So I think to be able to bring Moana to the big screen and to have a lot of BS,

01:06a lot of people around the world who anticipate the film is really a great thing.

01:12But also I think embracing not only our culture, our Polynesian culture,

01:17but also embracing their own culture too as well.

01:22And as a girl, Dad, what is it like being a part of their childhood?

01:26It's the greatest thing.

01:27I think there's two parts for me that's just so incredibly personal and connected to Moana 2.

01:32Number one is my grandfather, the character Maui was largely inspired by my grandfather.

01:39So in a way I speak as him and I'm in his skin in a way.

01:47We just wrapped live action Moana 2 as well.

01:49So that's been very special.

01:52But also just being a girl, Dad, and having my little girls and my big girls.

01:56I have three daughters, 23, 8 and 6, all ages, who see themselves represented in Moana.

02:03And that's amazing.

02:05And what's also amazing when I go around the world to promote the film,

02:08like here in London or wherever I've been,

02:11you meet all these little girls around the world and little boys who see themselves

02:17who are not brown skinned and it's beautiful,

02:21who see themselves in Moana and Maui and it's amazing.

02:26Thanks so much and congratulations on the project.

02:28Thank you so much. Thank you.