Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has been publicly praised by fans who have thanked him for opening up about his ongoing battle with depression.

The actor and former wrestler told The Express that he had been struggling with depression for 'decades', ever since witnessing his mother's failed suicide attempt when he was 15, after they had been evicted from their apartment.

"She got out of the car on Interstate 65 in Nashville and walked into oncoming traffic," he said. "I grabbed her and pulled her back on the gravel shoulder of the road."

He added: "What’s crazy about that suicide attempt is that to this day, she has no recollection of it whatsoever. Probably best she doesn’t."

He went on to add that other incidents in ensuing years - including his unfulfilled dream of playing professional football and a relationship break-up - contributed to his condition. 

The reaction to the interview has been overwhelmingly positive, however, and Johnson took to Twitter to thank fans: