Simon Pegg: Tom Cruise taught me to handle fame with grace
Synopsis
Simon Pegg credits Tom Cruise — a man who 'can't go anywhere' without being mobbed — with teaching him the art of gracious celebrity. But the more striking revelation is personal: 16 years of sobriety, a mental health hospitalisation in 2010 he kept secret for eight years, and daily 10k runs now keeping him grounded. This is Pegg at his most unguarded.
Key Takeaways
Simon Pegg says watching Tom Cruise handle public attention taught him to 'chill out' about fame.
Pegg has appeared alongside Cruise in all six Mission: Impossible films.
The 56-year-old has been sober for 16 years , attributing past heavy drinking to depression, not fame.
He credits a mental health hospital stay in 2010 with saving his life, but waited eight years to speak about it publicly.
Pegg maintains a daily fitness routine of 10k runs and strength workouts since quitting alcohol.
Actor Simon Pegg has credited his long-standing friendship with Tom Cruise for helping him navigate the pressures of celebrity life, revealing that watching the Hollywood icon in public situations reshaped his own attitude toward fame. The 56-year-old British actor has appeared alongside Cruise in all six instalments of the Mission: Impossible franchise.
Learning from Cruise
Speaking to The Sunday Times magazine, Pegg reflected on how Cruise — despite being one of the most recognised faces on the planet — manages public attention with composure. 'I mean, he's not able to go anywhere. But when he does, he's very aware of who he is, what it means. So, yes, I do look at how he conducts himself and have realised you just have to chill out. Anybody who gets frustrated or rejects people that come up to them to say nice things is an a*,' Pegg said.
He added that years of working closely with the 64-year-old Top Gun star have allowed him to cut through the 'bizarre mythology' that surrounds Cruise. 'I've been able to hack my way through all the bizarre mythology that surrounds him. I like being normal with him,' he said.
Sobriety and Mental Health
Pegg, who has been sober for 16 years, was candid about his past struggles with alcohol, linking them to depression rather than fame itself. Asked whether he would still be drinking had he not entered the spotlight, he said: 'Yes. Fame didn't cause it, it might have exacerbated it at times and thrown it into sharper relief but, no, it was in me before and just happened slightly in public rather than in private.'
He also credited a stay in a mental health hospital in 2010 with saving his life, though he waited eight years before speaking publicly about it. 'I was nervous. And it's not that as if I assume that anything I say is of great importance, but if someone found some connection? Great. Because going through pain can be very lonely,' he explained.
Fitness and Living Well
In the years since getting sober, Pegg has built a daily fitness routine centred on 10k runs and strength training. 'After I quit drinking I decided to get into shape. There was something positive about just looking after myself, and I love working out because it gets endorphins flowing and gives me a routine,' he said. He added with characteristic candour: 'The guys that were 56 when I was a kid seemed like my f grandad, and I just want to live for a long time. Because, you know what? I like life.'
What This Reveals
Pegg's remarks offer a rare, unguarded look at how even seasoned actors wrestle with the psychological weight of public life. His account — spanning sobriety, mental health hospitalisation, and the unlikely mentorship of one of cinema's biggest stars — underscores a growing willingness among entertainers to speak openly about struggles that were once considered career liabilities. Pegg has indicated he hopes his candour helps others feel less alone in their own battles.
Point of View
A frank admission that alcoholism was internal rather than industry-induced, and a fitness regimen that reads as self-preservation: these are not the talking points of a press junket. Pegg is doing something relatively rare in Hollywood — offering a coherent, unsanitised account of what sustained public life actually costs, and what it takes to survive it. Whether that candour shifts the needle on how the entertainment industry handles mental health among mid-tier stars remains to be seen.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Tom Cruise help Simon Pegg cope with fame?
Simon Pegg says observing how Tom Cruise conducts himself when recognised in public taught him to approach fan attention with patience rather than frustration. Pegg told The Sunday Times that anyone who 'rejects people that come up to them to say nice things' is behaving badly.
How long has Simon Pegg been sober?
Simon Pegg has been sober for 16 years. He has said that his heavy drinking was rooted in depression and existed before fame, though public life occasionally made it more visible.
When was Simon Pegg hospitalised for mental health?
Simon Pegg was admitted to a mental health hospital in 2010. He did not speak publicly about the experience for eight years, citing nerves, but has since said he hopes his openness helps others who feel alone in their struggles.
How many Mission: Impossible films has Simon Pegg appeared in?
Simon Pegg has starred alongside Tom Cruise in all six Mission: Impossible films, a run that has also given him an extended close-up view of how Cruise manages global celebrity.
What does Simon Pegg do to stay fit?
Since quitting alcohol, Pegg has adopted a daily routine of 10k runs and strength training. He has said the workouts provide both endorphins and structure, and that he is motivated by a desire to 'live a long time.'
