Jon Bernthal - The Rock shows soft side in 'Snitch'

The Rock shows soft side in 'Snitch'

DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON showed ''vulnerability'' in 'Snitch'.

The burly 'Fast and Furious' star and wrestler may best be known for playing tough guy roles, but for his latest flick - in which he plays a father whose son is wrongfully imprisoned - the star had to get in touch with his emotions.

He told Moviefone: ''Playing big, heroic characters with heart is always a lot of fun. I enjoy making movies like that, and a lot of people love to live vicariously through those characters. In a role like this, vulnerability comes into play immediately. As an actor, you open yourself up emotionally and put a lot of trust in the hands of your director. I jumped at that opportunity.

''I also enjoyed playing someone who wasn't necessarily considered 'your hero' and in the face of adversity, doesn't immediately stand up and save the day. He crumbles and tries to find his way.''

The busy actor has several blockbusters due for release this year - including 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation' and 'Fast & Furious 6' - and while these high octane pictures are fun to make, he relished the opportunity to make a more gritty, dramatic film.

He added: ''It's not a big-budget movie. Everyone involved in the project did it out of passion and were all really moved by this story. It never gets old, I love acting whether they're big action movies or smaller dramas with action, like this.''

Dwayne co-stars with 'The Walking Dead' actor Jon Bernthal and Susan Sarandon in the film, which was directed by Ric Roman Waugh.