Wrestler became actor John Cena by combining hard work and fun on the set of the new comedy Playing With Fire

YOU might think John Cena is a little harsh. After all, the Massachusetts-born professional wrestler – who made his WWE television debut in 2002 – has won a total of 17 championships, including 10 world titles.

But in recent years, the 42-year-old has also made a name for himself in film roles – and his latest shows how sweet he really is. In Playing With Fire, he plays Jake Carson, the fire superintendent, who, after rescuing them from wildfire, ends up keeping the three siblings.

And he really liked making the children’s film filled with gag, but sincere.

“I just think everyone involved, from Andy [Fickman] the director, in the studio, everyone in the project, knew exactly what we were doing, and it was a fun movie, “said the charming star with a big smile.

Unable to locate the parents of the children, Jake – and the rest of his elite team – saw their lives, their jobs and even their fire station turned upside down when they decided to let them into the station.

They quickly learn that children, like fires, are wild and unpredictable, especially since the three brothers and sisters are quite numerous.

There is Brynn (Brianna Hildebrand), 16, who has a smart mouth, a flea on her shoulder and a secret she prefers not to share, plus Will (Christian Convery), 10, and almost four years -old Zoey (Finley Rose Slater).

WC Fields’ well-known quote is “never work with children or animals”, but Cena thinks it should be reorganized to say, “If you don’t have patience, don’t work with animals and children. “

“The performance we get from Gnasher [the pet dog]and the kids are so bright, “he said.

“Just take a second, take a deep breath, put yourself in the place of a six or four year old child.

“You cannot expect them to have the same concentration as you, and if you give them enough time and find the right environment, even with animals, they will happen, they will shine. to have a little patience. “

The star, who is also known for the comedy Blockers, the animation Ferdinand and the spin-off of Transformers Bumblebee, admits that he spent long days on set for Playing With Fire.

“You wake up in the morning and put 12 to 2 pm in the day. But when those 2 pm laugh and smile, it goes like” that “”, he says, clicking on his fingers to get an effect.

“Even the most difficult moments were lived with a smile.”

But what about once the shooting is finished; how does he find looking back at his work?

“It took me a while to get used to it,” he says.

“But when they finally said cut, you have to move on to the next thing.” I feel like I couldn’t have done more. You have to agree with that.

With the character of Jake, we see someone who is obsessed with work. He followed the same career path as his late father and is determined to become a commander; something that, at the start of the film, is really tangible.

However, his ability to focus on the application becomes compromised when the firefighters take the kids away – he quickly realizes that it’s quite difficult to keep them out of his way.

As the story progresses, Jake’s carefully constructed facade begins to crack, thanks to the children, and also to a potential love interest, field biologist Dr Amy Hicks (Judy Greer).

“Jake learns a lot from Amy and the kids,” notes Cena. “How good it is to be human.

“I think a very important underlying message in the film is to embrace the uncomfortable. And Jake, being someone of routine and structure, likes comfort, which is strange because he can jump in a fire with five alarms. “

Another theme of the film is to learn the importance of a good work-life balance – something the actor notes that everyone goes through.

“We all want to do well, we all have things that we aspire to do, and often we get caught up in our own business so much we don’t realize that there are caring people, there is a whole wonderful world around. us, “he suggests.

“I think a lot of people will be able to resonate with this. The relationships and the moments in this film not only make her laugh, but make you think of a lot too.”

From his own career, he adds: “Everyone always says:” How do you do all this? You’re so busy “- we’re all busy. All of us.

“And what I like most about this film is that it takes a deep breath and stops to look around,” Yeah, it’s okay. Everything here is fine, and I should enjoy it when I get the chance. “

When asked if he had a career checklist, Cena didn’t mean if there was a job or a particular project he wanted to check off. But he shares certain mantras that he intends to continue living.

“The career checklist is to understand every opportunity in real time, to give everything you have and – it’s so cliché – but to live each day at a time.”

:: Playing With Fire is available for download now