British actor Simon Pegg, 55, has bravely opened up about his mental health struggles and revealed he would try to ease his symptoms using alcohol before going to rehab and getting sober. The star says it was only when he took part in one particular film that he decided he wanted to change.
Simon built a legion of fans across the globe thanks to his comedy shows and films, which include the iconic series Spaced, and movies Run Fatboy Run and Hot Fuzz. Regularly seen with longtime friend and co-star Nick Frost, it was his role in the zombie film Shaun of the Dead, which he co-wrote with Edgar Wright, that launched him into the realm of Hollywood status.
The movie caught the attention of a number of big names, including Quentin Tarantino, Peter Jackson and Mission: Impossible director, J.J. Abrams.
After being offered the role of IT nerd and comic foil Benji Dunn in Mission: Impossible III, he headed to LA to meet with megastar Tom Cruise and Abrams.
Speaking to Variety, as their new film, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, is about to be released in cinemas, he revealed that he spent his first day on set with Cruise “slightly hungover and feeling a little bit wired”. He told the outlet that he can remember not being “particularly present” because he was so inside his head, which made it hard to relax and enjoy what was happening.
Discussing his relationship with drink, he explained: “What I was ultimately dealing with was depression, which I was trying to manage by anaesthetising myself. It was less of being an alcoholic, more being dependent on the sensation.”
However, it was only when Abrams asked him to appear in Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol in 2011 that he knew he needed to change his life. Explaining that his role in the franchise had been upped considerably, with Benji now out in the field with a gun, he had to be emotionally and physically present for the gruelling schedule. He also revealed that production was very aware of what he was battling off-screen, and went to great lengths to support him as he sought recovery.
He continued: “They had a sober companion for me — and just really looked after me.I felt very taken care of and felt valued, because they bothered to do that.” According to Pegg, Cruise also told him had to get in shape for the role. Simon went on: “I kind of found this joy in looking after myself and just realising that if I ate well and went to the gym I could actually feel good. So I credit ‘Mission’ with rescuing me — because it gave me real focus at a time when I needed focus. And I just had the best time on Ghost Protocol.”
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning hits cinemas on 21st May 2025.