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Beholding Dave Bautista

SINGAPORE — What’s the biggest hurdle for professional wrestlers who make the leap to acting? For Dave Bautista, who plays Drax The Destroyer in Marvel’s latest offering, Guardians Of The Galaxy, it was one simple word.

Yes, the 1.98m-tall Dave Bautista is actually very shy. Photo: Alvin Chong

Yes, the 1.98m-tall Dave Bautista is actually very shy. Photo: Alvin Chong

SINGAPORE — What’s the biggest hurdle for professional wrestlers who make the leap to acting? For Dave Bautista, who plays Drax The Destroyer in Marvel’s latest offering, Guardians Of The Galaxy, it was one simple word.

“There was this part where Drax says ‘behold’,” said Bautista. “It was so hard for me to get it out because I felt so awkward because I would never say ‘behold’ in my life. I just kept saying it, ‘behold’, and it’s like, ‘No, that’s wrong!’”

Dialogue aside, the towering Bautista — who was in Singapore for the Guardians Of The Galaxy Southeast Asia tour — has the physical presence to play the revenge-seeking Drax from Marvel’s summer blockbuster. But while the character has its roots in the comics, Bautista said he played a new interpretation of the character.

“If you look at the character that has been portrayed in the comics and look at what the character is now that (Guardians director) James Gunn has got his hands on him, there are just no similarities,” said Bautista. “I just had to make Drax who I felt that Drax was. And also who James felt that Drax was ... future reference of Drax will be my performance as Drax.”

The self-professed introvert was also famously emotional when he found out he got the part, but said it was less so when it came to filming — except for one moment, all thanks to co-star Chris Pratt.

“I actually got choked up once (during filming) — I only know Chris Pratt as the funny guy ... (and) he did one scene, this really heartfelt scene, and he brought it — it was all from the heart,” said Bautista. “That was a serious leading-man moment. And when you recognise someone who’s that talented, it can bring you to tears.”

Pratt, who plays the leader of the Guardians, Star-Lord, was always known to be a “little chubby” in most of his previous roles. But fans of Pratt have noticed his remarkable transformation into a trim, cut, muscle-man. But no, Bautista said he didn’t have any part in it.

“No, I didn’t (help out) at all!” said Bautista. “He’s just kind of a big dude, you know, he’s got big-old legs and a big neck. He was an amateur wrestler as well. When I met him, he was still a little chubby, when we did our first screen test. And then the guy shows up on set a few months later, and he’s got six packs and he’s all shredded, he didn’t look like the same guy.”

No, they didn’t get into any pose-offs to see who was more toned during filming (“we were more encouraging to each other rather than in a competition,” insisted Bautista), but there were some Spinal Tap moments on set.

“I hope he doesn’t get pissed at me for saying this, but he sent me a drunk text one night ...” began Bautista, before he was unceremoniously cut off by his handler.

One can only imagine what hijinks those Guardians were really up to.ALVIN CHONG

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