Simon Pegg Credits 'Mission: Impossible' With Saving Him From Depression and Alcoholism

Simon Pegg attributed this acting thriller with salvaging his life.

The 55-year-old actor opened up about his role in six "Mission: Impossible" films opposite Tom Cruise, beginning with "Mission:Impossible III" from 2006.

Pegg shared with Variety, "In what represents the pinnacle of my aspirations from childhood, a scenario I never imagined would occur for me... finding myself in Hollywood, surrounded by the films that I adored growing up."

The actor similarly remembered feeling "profoundly miserable" during that period.

What I was really coping with was depression," Pegg explained, "and my attempt at managing it involved numbing myself. This wasn’t so much about alcoholism; rather, it was about relying on the feeling it provided.

The comic recalled his first day on set with Cruise, who was 62 at the time, saying he felt "somewhat hungover and quite jittery… I recall not really being fully engaged, as I was preoccupied with my thoughts, making it difficult to unwind and appreciate the experience."

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Upon returning to the hotel, Pegg headed directly for the bar, driven by what could be described as a "nihilistic, self-destructive urge."

When "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol" arrived in 2011, the English actor's character, Benji Dunn, played by Simon Pegg, was assigned to operate in the field with Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt. Recognizing his struggle with addiction, the filmmakers made sure to provide assistance and support during filming.

“He had a serious attendant for himself—and truly took great care of him,” he shared with the publication, underscoring the dedication of J.J. Abrams and Brad Bird.

"I felt extremely well-cared for and appreciated, as they took the initiative to do so," he stated.

Pegg also relayed how Cruise told him, "For this movie, you're getting into shape—you're an agent now!"

And he did — having maintained sobriety since 2010.

I discovered a sense of happiness in taking care of myself and realized that eating healthily and hitting the gym allowed me to genuinely feel better," Pegg admitted. "Thus, I owe 'Mission' for saving me—because it provided me with genuine direction during a period when I desperately needed it. Plus, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience working on 'Ghost Protocol.'

The release of “Mission: Impossible – The Ultimate Accounting” is just around the corner, with Cruise and his team returning for one final hurrah.

The film is set to debut at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, which is presently taking place. The cast includes Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Nick Offerman, Angela Bassett, Esai Morales, Greg Tarzan Davis, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, and Hannah Waddingham.

Reflecting on the production of all eight endeavors since 1996, Cruise mentioned to People I am going to acquire a new skill, and I'm confident that at some point I'll get to use it in a film.

One of these abilities is dancing because "I'm intrigued by this artistic expression." The instructors know how to guide a body, comprehend the impact of different shapes, and evoke emotions in their audience through movement.

Cruise continually pursues further education, whether it involves mastering the piano, dedicating more time to dancing, skydiving, or piloting planes and helicopters. He believes that perfection is unattainable; there's always room for improvement.

Even though when discussing her experience with playing the piano, the Academy Award nominee mentioned, "I wouldn't call it 'playing.' I like striking the keys... It helps me relax."

The concluding film will feature the actor performing numerous high-octane stunts himself, including scenes with the "Top Gun" celebrity. revealing how he prepares for those scenes.

I really go all out with my breakfast," Cruise confessed. "It requires so much energy—I work out intensively for the wing-walking stunts. I might have sausages, close to a dozen eggs, bacon, toast, coffee, and plenty of liquids. Yes, I consume quite a bit! Think about this: It gets chilly up there. We're at high altitudes, and my body is constantly burning.

Even though the intense training regimen required to portray Ethan Hunt is demanding, Cruise finds satisfaction in it and wouldn’t want it any different.

He mentioned that he "constantly" experiences feelings of thankfulness from being part of the film.

Cruise added, "Making movies isn't just something I do; it's an integral part of who I am."