Simon Pegg, renowned for his portrayal of IMF technical field agent Benji Dunn in the Mission Impossible movies, recently disclosed that he kept his struggle with alcohol addiction concealed from his co-stars while filming Mission Impossible III in 2006.
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In a conversation with BBC’s Desert Island Discs, Pegg revealed that he underwent a period of mental illness during the production of the third installment of the Mission Impossible series, which led him to rely on alcohol.

“When you have something like that in your life, you become incredibly crafty,” he admitted.

The actor further explained, “You learn to navigate it without arousing suspicion because it takes control. It strives to sustain itself and will go to great lengths to avoid being halted. However, there comes a point when it becomes impossible to hide, and fortunately, I managed to recover before reaching that stage.”

Pegg, who has successfully entered the path of recovery, also expressed his thoughts on his friendship with Tom Cruise, stating, “My bond with him is simple and cordial. It has always been an effortless relationship. Meeting the person rather than the layers of mythology surrounding them is a different encounter altogether.”

Despite their strong friendship, Pegg acknowledged that there is one topic he avoids discussing with Cruise – Tom’s affiliation with the Church of Scientology. Pegg clarified that broaching the subject would be an “inappropriate use of the access” he has to their friendship.
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