Simon Pegg admits he nearly died from alcoholism and depression after making it big in Hollywood

ACTOR Simon Pegg has admitted he nearly died from alcoholism and depression after landing his big break in Hollywood.

Simon, 48, said he stayed up for eight days straight while filming 2006’s Mission: Impossible III because he was “lost, unhappy and an alcoholic”.

He also revealed he has never discussed Scientology with co-star pal Tom Cruise, but added: “Obviously part of me wants to go, ‘What the f*** is that all about?’ ”

Shaun of the Dead star Pegg said he was in a “bizarre place” mentally while playing agent Benji Dunn in MI3.

But he praised director JJ Abrams and co-star Tom Cruise for their patience.

He said: “When I see Mission: Impossible III, I see a guy who’s been awake for eight days.

“I was tired and I was nervous and JJ was so good with me. Tom was wonderful.

“They managed to edit together a fairly competent performance from me.

Simon, married to Maureen since 2005, said he had been aware that he suffered with depression since he was 18 — but had always dealt with it by “self-medicating”.

But he said: “When I watch that film back, I can see where I was then, which was fairly lost, and unhappy, and an alcoholic. It was awful, terrible. It owned me.”

In 2010, a year after his daughter Matilda was born, Simon was supposed to be promoting his sci-fi comedy movie Paul in California — but went missing for four days.

When he returned to the UK he checked into rehab — which he credits with turning his life around. He said: “I don’t think I would be here now if I hadn’t had help.”

By the time Simon started filming 2011’s Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol, producers took all the booze out of his hotel room and had an assistant with him at all times.

He said: “It helped me to get out of this dark place and realise that life was enjoyable.”

Simon, promoting Mission: Impossible — Fallout, which is released at the end of July, also praised co-star Cruise.

The Top Gun actor, 56, is­ known for performing his own stunts — and for his dedication to religion Scientology.

Simon said: “When I hear people speculating about his weird religion and making assumptions about who he is as a person, I say, ‘You know he risks his life for his audience?’

“I have never discussed his beliefs with him. Everyone always asks, ‘Did he try and convert you? Is it all Scientology?’ But I’ve never seen that.

“I have glimpsed it a little bit — people from the church have been on set now and again, but he doesn’t proselytise about it. Obviously part of me wants to go, ‘What the f*** is that all about?’

“There is a complexity to him. He is way more than just a mad alien.”

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