Dwayne Johnson opens up on asking daughter Simone for help
Dwayne Johnson says he now turns to his eldest daughter, Simone, and asks, "Can you help me?" when he feels nervous or scared—a shift he links to the emotional guardedness that he says contributed to his 2007 divorce from Dany Garcia. As The National reports, Johnson is framing that honesty as central to fatherhood while promoting Disney's live-action Moana, out July 10.
Key Takeaways
- Johnson credits his upbringing for teaching toughness without openness, saying his father never modelled vulnerability.
- He now tells Simone, 24, when he is uncertain and says those conversations have changed their relationship.
- The actor ties the lesson to playing Maui again and to co-producing the remake with ex-wife Dany Garcia.
- Johnson also has daughters Jasmine, 10, and Tiana, 8, and says he still has time to model what he once needed to hear.
- His co-star Catherine Lagaʻaia told People that family pride shaped her own breakout Moana journey.
Why is Dwayne Johnson talking about vulnerability now?
Johnson is back as Maui in Disney's live-action Moana, which arrives in theaters on July 10, 2026. In interviews tied to the film, he has reflected on fatherhood, divorce, and masculinity with unusual candor.
He told The National that his version of masculinity still includes strength, but also being comfortable asking for help. He said he never reached that place in his 20s or 30s, and his voice caught as he linked that pattern to his split from Garcia.
Despite the divorce, Garcia remained his professional partner and helped produce the live-action remake alongside Johnson. For more on how stars open up during major releases, see our celebrity breaking news coverage.
What did Johnson tell his daughter Simone?
Johnson described a turning point in how he relates to Simone, now 24. He said he has started coming to her when he feels unsure about what lies ahead.
His words, as reported by The National: "Hey, I'm nervous about this thing, and I don't know how it's going to shake out, and maybe I'm a little scared. Can you help me? Can we talk about this?" He added that things can change quickly when men learn to ask for help.
Johnson also said he wants his younger daughters, Jasmine and Tiana, to hear what he once needed. Letting Simone become what he called a soft place to fall has become part of that effort.
How does live-action Moana connect to his fatherhood story?
Johnson told The National that when Maui cannot ask for help on screen, he is drawing on real regrets from his marriage to Garcia. He said admitting fault and seeking support was something he could not do before the divorce.
That parallel lands as Johnson promotes a film starring 19-year-old Catherine Lagaʻaia as Moana. In a People exclusive, Lagaʻaia said her father, actor Jay Lagaʻaia, was the person whose pride mattered most as she took on the iconic role.
She joked about "inherited nepotism" and said she wanted to extend the legacy her dad built in the industry. Johnson's own story with Simone shows a different side of family—one where a famous father is now the one asking for guidance.
Why do fans still connect with Johnson off camera?
The contrast between Johnson's emotional interviews and his playful set persona helps explain his staying power. Yahoo Entertainment highlighted blooper reels that show Johnson breaking character, joking about his strength, and refusing to take himself too seriously across his film career.
Those clips include moments from projects ranging from action roles to his voice work in Moana. The through-line is the same likability Johnson is now channeling into a more personal message about fatherhood.
As Moana heads to theaters, Johnson is selling a blockbuster while also arguing that real strength can sound as simple as four words: "Can you help me?"