BECOMING a world-beating WWE wrestler seems to be a great path to Hollywood – but Dave Bautista wants to move away from that image.
From a cameo on Australian soap Neighbours, to suiting up as Drax the Destroyer in Marvel, before terrifying fans as a Harkonnen in Dune, the former wrestling star is moving up the A-list ladder.
Bautista stunned fans on the red carpet on Friday with an epic Christian Bale-like body transformation for his latest role in The Killer’s Game.
The 55-year-old superstar once weighed 26st at his heaviest, but has now dropped to 17st.
But this isn’t the first time Bautista has drastically changed his body to get into character or stand up to discrimination.
In 2022, the Washington-born actor revealed that he removed his Manny Pacquiao inspired tattoo after the boxer made “anti-gay” statements in 2016.
Bautista burst onto the scene in wrestling back in 2002 thanks to his gigantic frame when he debuted on SmackDown as Deacon Batista.
The legendary heavyweight then changed his name to Batista and went on to win six world titles while beating wrestling greats like John Cena, The Undertaker, Triple H, Randy Orton and many more.
After winning his first WWE title in Los Angeles, he then turned all of his attention to the City of Angels’ biggest export – Hollywood.
Bautista decided to quit the WWE in 2010 and pursue his acting career full-time, while also trying his hand in mixed-martial arts, winning his first and only MMA bout in 2012.
His first film was a type-cast action role in Wrong Side of the Road, before his big break came as Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014.
He told US news outlet ET in 2017: “I feel unfulfilled as an actor. I have goals to breach into certain spaces. I want to be in every genre. I also have my sights set on directing at some stage.”
There had been talk of the former World Heavyweight Champion joining the WWE Hall of Fame, but the induction was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Bautista’s filming.
Without a doubt, Bautista’s role as Drax is his most famous. But he doesn’t want it to be.
He told ESPN last year: “I’m grateful for Drax. But there’s a relief it’s over. I don’t want it to be my legacy – it’s a silly performance. I want to do more dramatic stuff.
He subsequently starred as Mr Hinx in James Bond film Spectre before receiving high praise for his supporting role in Blade Runner 2049 and the final two Avengers reprisals.
But 2023 was Bautista’s biggest year yet.
His face was plastered all over Netflix, stealing scenes in Glass Onion, A Knock at the Cabin, his final Marvel showpiece, before capping the year off in December with a vastly expanded role in Dune: Part Two.
Starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya, Dune was the highest grossing movie of 2024, racking up a whopping £711.8million in the world-wide box office.
In an interview with GQ, Bautista said: “I never wanted to be the next Rock. I wanted to be a good f****** actor. A respected actor.”
He’ll next be on our screens in The Killer’s Game and The Last Showgirl later this month.
Bautista has amassed an impressive net worth estimated at approximately £15.3million.
This wealth has resulted from a culmination of both his WWE and acting career and various entrepreneurial ventures.
His investments span across several fitness and nutrition companies as well as real estate and personal endorsements on social media.
On his lifestyle, Bautista told GQ: “Honestly, I couldn’t give a f*** about being a movie star. I don’t live a great big glamorous life.
“I live in Tampa, Florida. I don’t care about the spotlight or the fame. I just want to be a better actor. I want respect from my peers. I don’t need accolades.
“It’s about the experience, about knowing that I accomplished something.”
Bautista also revealed that he had turned to jiu-jitsu as part of his fitness journey, and has ‘sacrificed a lot of muscle’ as part of that.
The 6 foot 4 hunk, who has been married and divorced three times with three children and two grandchildren, has a several bold tattoos.
A large dragon on his back, tribal markings, and red kanji lettering on his bicep which says “Angel” in a tribute to his second wife, Angie.
He once had a tattoo of a meteor on his arm, a logo associated with former pal Pacquiao, but had it covered up with a sugar skull after the boxer made homophobic remarks in his early political career.
Bautista added: “I had a huge issue with his statements. It’s a personal issue with me. My mum’s a lesbian, and I just could no longer call him a friend.”
Pacquiao was running for a seat in the Philippine Senate when he made the comments but has since apologised.
