Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista on dreadful Neighbours cameo and his stellar career

From WWE wrestling and a shaky early cameo in Neighbours, Dave Bautista has become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. What’s the secret to his superhero success?

Wrestler turned actor Dave Bautista cringes when he thinks about his time on Neighbours.

Ten years ago, as one of the sport’s biggest stars, he made a cameo as himself on the long-running soap to promote a WWE tour, bumping into Toadfish (Ryan Moloney) and Callum (Morgan Baker) in a cafe.

And as an actor, he admits he didn’t even make a good wrestler.

“I struggled even then playing myself,” he said with a laugh.

“That was before I had even taken an interest in acting. At that time, I had zero desire to pursue acting.”

A decade later, thanks largely to playing Drax the Destroyer in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers movies, he is hot acting property.

Avengers: Endgame is still in cinemas and on the brink overtaking Avatar as the highest grossing movie ever, and he has two comedies, Stuber and My Spy, opening in coming months.

Dave Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani in a scene from the movie Stuber. Fox Films

He’s also keen to get back with his Guardians family for a third film in the franchise and wants Chris Hemsworth to join the team.

The Aussie heart-throb’s popular character Thor was seen at the end of Endgame boarding a spaceship with Drax and Guardians, and the US actor thinks he’d make a great foil to Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord.

“I think Thor would fit in tremendously,” said Bautista.

“I think especially after the last Thor, which had such a fun vibe, and I think Chris is just funny.

“I really think he has such a strength in comedic acting and I think his banter back and forth with Chris Pratt is hysterical.

Dave Bautista as Drax. Picture: Marvel Studios

“So I think it would work and I think it’s something that would actually be welcomed.”

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The two filmed several scenes together for Endgame, including one that didn’t make the final cut, and Bautista was impressed with what he saw.

“We spent a lot of time together and had more than a few great scenes together — we had one scene that didn’t actually make the film. I like him a lot actually. He’s a fun, charming guy, very grounded and doesn’t take anything too seriously.”

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