What would you do for love?
John Cena got down on his knees and begged his high school sweetheart, Liz Huberdeau of Groveland, to be his wife.
"I am very lucky to have her in my life," the West Newbury native said of the woman who has been by his side "through thick and thin."
In his new movie, however, Cena gets a little more desperate for love: He scales buildings, high-jacks firetrucks and jumps out of exploding helicopters.
And he does it all to rescue his kidnapped fiancee in "12 Rounds," opening nationwide March 27.
Cena plays conflicted New Orleans police detective Danny Fisher, a man who must match wits with an international arms dealer to rescue his girlfriend (Ashley Scott).
Real-life wrestler Cena, as Fisher, goes toe-to-toe like a boxer with the devilish Miles Jackson (Dublin-born Aidan Gillen) in the adrenaline-fueled film helmed by "Die Hard 2" director Renny Harlin.
The story and the character were a big attraction to Cena. So was the idea of working with Harlin, a legendary action director who himself has worked with actors like from Geena Davis to Samuel L. Jackson.
When Cena met Harlin, he walked into an office covered with photo, he said. Harlin had mapped out every moment of the movie before the first day of filming.
"He said, 'Hi, I am Renny Harlin. How do you like your movie?'" Cena said.
Cena did most of his own stunts for the film, including repelling from a several-story building and climbing over a runaway streetcar down in the Big Easy.
"I know how to take a beating," said Cena, who almost quit "12 Rounds" during the two-and-a-half days he had to repeatedly "fall" from a building.
The film was shot in New Orleans from February through March of last year. Cena said the city was wonderful to work in, and filmmakers were allowed total access. In return, "12 Rounds" is a bit of a love letter to the still hurricane-ravaged city.
"It's a film about the city, but we are not shoving the city down anyone's throat," Cena said.
This is Cena's second starring film role, after "The Marine," out in 2006. That $24 million film was almost universally panned by critics, however it was WWE's most successful film to date. It earned about $20 million at the box office and another $30 million in rentals and DVD sales.
For this film, Cena prepared for his role using his brother Dan — a Newbury police officer — as a role model. He also trained with the New Orleans Police Department.
Cena sees himself as an old-school action hero — more Schwarzenegger than Damon. He hopes this is the sort of movie audiences have been waiting for.
"If they want (that old-school genre) to come back, I am the first in that arena," he said.
Splitting his time between the wrestling ring and the silver screen wasn't something Cena ever expected.
"It's not something I thought I could achieve," he said.
Ten years ago, he was folding towels at the Venice Beach Gold's Gym and living out of his car, when someone approached him to join the WWE.
The Cushing Academy graduate who left home for Hollywood with two duffle bags and a suitcase of dreams said yes and never looked back.
Now Cena splits his time between his wrestling appearances and acting responsibilities. Both keep him on his toes.
"When you do both at the same time, be ready to burn the candle at both ends," Cena said.
