Simon Pegg has spoken up about the ‘worst days’ of his alcoholism, claiming that if he hadn’t sought help, he would have died.
Even though he had a tremendously successful career, the actor, who has acted in comic blockbusters such as Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, struggled from serious despair and alcoholism for years.
Simon now claims that if he hadn’t struggled to put his life back together, he would have perished, recalling the worst times of his addiction.
Simon claimed in a new interview with The Times that he drank to ‘numb’ his depression and became addicted to the sensation.
He said he ‘knew I was depressed’ but ‘didn’t know how to escape’ the feelings without drinking – so he ‘became addicted to the sensation of being numb, rather than the chemical addiction.’
Simon’s friends and family, including co-star Nick Frost, were concerned about his drinking, which led to him drinking at breakfast amid ‘the darkest periods.’
However, giving up alcohol proved difficult, and Simon “kind of threw [himself] off a cliff, and hit the ground hard and fast.”
Simon recalls one of the darkest days of his addiction, when he blacked out for four days in San Diego after appearing at Comic-Con.
He recalls sitting on the street eating pizza after losing his phone, briefly seeing Sigourney Weaver on a flight, and staying in a hotel room in Santa Monica during the days he was absent.
At one point, he remembers thinking: ‘I must really look pathetic.’
The actor eventually checked in to the Priory addiction clinic to get clean from alcohol, which he says saved his life.
‘One hundred per cent [I would be dead today otherwise],’ he said.
‘Because, and I don’t think it’s too dramatic to say, that is the ultimate end of that line of flight.’
Simon has continued to have a successful acting career since overcoming his addiction, appearing in major franchises such as Mission: Impossible and Ice Age.
In addition to Star Trek and Star Wars, the actor has acted in a number of TV productions, including The Boys and Truth Seekers, which he co-created with Hot Fuzz co-star Nick.
Simon has been filming for Mission: Impossible 8 and will reprise his role as Benji Dunn in the upcoming Mission: Impossible 7.
Matilda, the actor’s 12-year-old daughter, was born to him and his wife Maureen McCann, who helped him get through his addiction crisis.