John Cena uses ‘buzz’ around his new flick Playing With Fire to ‘showcase real rescuers’ as he honors first responders

John Cena is shining a light on first responders.

The 42-year-old is sharing the cover of Good Housekeeping with a Florida firefighter who won the magazine’s Hometown Heroes contest ahead of his new flick Playing With Fire.

Cena said he wanted to use the usual hoopla around the movie to showcase the real people who put their lives on the line everyday.

Doing good: John Cena is sharing the cover of Good Housekeeping with a Florida firefighter who won the magazine’s Hometown Heroes contest ahead of his new flick Playing With Fire

The wrestler turned actor posed for a photoshoot dressed in a firefighter uniform with real life first responder Lori Byrd.

‘I wanted to use the buzz around my new movie, Playing With Fire (I play a smokejumper) to showcase real rescuers,’ he said.

So I teamed up with Good Housekeeping and put out the call for people to nominate a hero who inspired them.’

The winner was Byrd, who’s been on the job as a firefighter for two years in Jacksonville, Florida.

The hero: The winner was Lori Byrd, who’s been on the job as a firefighter for two years in Jacksonville, Florida

Byrd had saved the lives of a woman and her son when she was working as a bank teller and saw their car crash into a pond.

‘I had always wanted to be a firefighter, but growing up I didn’t think it was a career for women, so I didn’t pursue it,’ Lori said. ‘There were a couple of women firefighters who responded to the accident that day, and I thought, I can do this.’

After her father suffered a stroke, Lori marveled at the life-saving measures taking by first responders and finally decided to follow her dream.

‘To me, a hero is anyone who lives with passion and purpose, no matter what kind of job he or she clocks in to,’ John said. ‘What sets first responders apart is that an ordinary day of work can include willingly facing down danger.’

‘I admired that because it is something I have trouble doing,’ he continued. ‘I enjoy doing stunts, but when something doesn’t seem too safe, I’m like, “We should talk this over…”‘

Along with Lori Byrd, the magazine profiled several other runners-up including a fire chief, a paramedic and a nurse

‘My cover costar, Lori Byrd, impressed me not just with her bravery, but with her perseverance and determination to help carve the path for the next class of female firefighters,’ John said

Readers had nominated their own personal heroes for Good Housekeeping’s Playing With Fire Hometown Heroes contest earlier this year.

‘My cover costar, Lori Byrd, impressed me not just with her bravery, but with her perseverance and determination to help carve the path for the next class of female firefighters,’ John said.

Part of why Cena wanted to lend his celebrity to the project is because his brother Dan has been a police office for two decades.

Inspiration: The courage of John’s brother Dan, who has been a cop for 20 years, inspired much of his support for brave first responders

‘I know he has been in some pretty hairy situations and emergencies to which I will never be able to relate,’ John explained. ‘Those things come with the job he’s dedicated his life to.’

‘But like most first responders, he’s humble. So I think it’s up to us to find out who the people in our communities are who save lives — and let them know they are appreciated.’

John’s upcoming comedy Playing With Fire co-stars Keegan-Michael Key and John Leguizamo. The trio play firefighters who ‘meet their match when attempting to rescue three rambunctious kids.’

In the movie Cena plays a smokejumper which is a highly trained firefighter who is the first on the scene at a wild fire by parachuting into the rugged terrain

Playing With Fire: John’s upcoming comedy co-stars Keegan-Michael Key and John Leguizamo as a trio of firefighters who ‘meet their match when attempting to rescue three rambunctious kids’

Cena told GH that he is enjoying being around kids more and more but his views on not having children of his own haven’t wavered.

‘I don’t have a negative view towards parenting, so it doesn’t change it,’ he said of his decision not to have kids. ‘If anything, I’ve grown to enjoy being around children more and more.’

He added: ‘I’ve always enjoyed it, but it used to be only maybe in like a performance aspect…And it’s cool because how much kids want to learn and how excited they are to learn about the questions that they have, no matter how ridiculous … I just …I don’t know if I could do it. Or I’m not sure I can do it full-time right now.’