Simon Pegg, best known for his role as Benji Dunn in the Mission: Impossible franchise, has opened up about his battle with alcoholism, stating that he would likely be dead if he had not given up drinking 16 years ago. The 56-year-old actor struggled with severe alcoholism and depression, which peaked during the filming of Mission: Impossible III in 2006. He secretly relied on alcohol to manage long-term emotional pain but eventually entered rehab in 2009 after his daughter was born, maintaining his sobriety ever since.
Fame's Role in His Addiction
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Pegg addressed the common assumption that fame and wealth are the keys to happiness. He admitted that while fame might have exacerbated his alcoholism at times, it was not the root cause. When asked if he would still be an alcoholic if he were not famous, he simply replied: "Yes." He elaborated: "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."
The Turning Point
Pegg first publicly shared his struggles with alcoholism in a candid interview with The Guardian on July 9, 2018. He explained that he felt "nervous" about discussing it but hoped others could relate. "And it's not as if I assume that anything I say is of any importance, but if someone found some connection? Great. Because going through pain can be very lonely. I was someone people thought was superficially all right, but was not all right and that can make people think, 'Oh, everyone feels like this - not just me,'" he told The Sunday Times.
Life After Rehab
Pegg entered the Priory, a world-leading alcohol detox and rehab treatment center, in 2010. He has now been sober for 16 years and credits his sobriety with saving his life. During an appearance on Desert Island Discs three years ago, he detailed how he realized he was a depressive alcoholic despite his successful film career. He noted that people often hide alcoholism, saying: "You become very sneaky when you have something like that in your life. You learn how to do it without anyone noticing because it takes over. It wants to sustain itself and it will do everything it can to not be stopped. But eventually it just gets to a point when it can't be hidden, and that's when, thankfully, I was able to pull out of the dive."
If you are struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction, advice and support can be found at alcoholchange.org.uk.
