Simon Pegg opens up on his 'simple' friendship with Tom Cruise and why they'll never discuss Scientology
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The 'Mission: Impossible' co-stars Simon Pegg, 53, and Tom Cruise, 60, are well known for their close friendship in the industry, but do you think they talk openly about everything? Pegg allegedly never questions Cruise about his religious beliefs, which he feels is an abuse of "privileged access."
The 53-year-old actor and screenwriter opened up about his relationship with Cruise, who is still dedicated to the Church of Scientology, in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. They've been 'Mission: Impossible' co-stars and pals since they met during the production of JJ Abrams' third installment, which debuted in theatres in 2006. However, queries regarding Scientology beliefs are off-limits.
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Why doesn't Pegg ask Cruise about Scientology?
The actor and writer claimed he refrains from enquiring about Cruise's "personal beliefs" since doing so would amount to him abusing the "privileged access" that he gets to the megastar. "I don't ask him about stuff like that because I feel that would be me abusing my privileged access that I get to him, you know what I mean?" Pegg said when asked about his 'Mission: Impossible' co-star's religion as per BBC.
'We're friends'
Simon Pegg revealed earlier that he became friends with the legendary actor Cruise after working with him on the 'Mission: Impossible' series. The actor who portrays Benji Dunn, an IMF technical field agent, in the venerable franchise said of his friendship with Cruise that it is "just very simple and amiable. We're friends." "It’s always been a very easy relationship. I think you realize, when you meet the person rather than the thicket of mythology that’s built up around them, it’s a different experience," Pegg said. "I mean, he loves the fame and he really relishes it, it’s all he knows. It energizes him and spurs him on."
'I'd find that very stressful'
Pegg remarked, "I don't think I would appreciate that particularly," when asked if he would feel the same way about achieving Cruise's status and fame. "I'd find that very stressful and overwhelming." Pegg did stress that Cruise is aware of his popularity, saying he "kind of appreciates the ridiculousness of it sometimes." "We joke about it. I mean, I always make fun of him for it, you know, about the things that he can access," Pegg stated.
'Real Tom Cruise kind of day'
Pegg revealed that his association with the 'Top Gun' actor has other intriguing characteristics, such as his involvement with extreme adventures. He related an incident about how during a break from shooting in South Africa, Cruise "decided he wanted to go swim with sharks." As a result, Cruise took the two to the ocean in a helicopter on what Pegg calls "a real Tom Cruise kind of day."
Pegg's battle with alcoholism
Pegg also revealed that in 2006, while shooting 'Mission: Impossible III', he had a mental health crisis and turned to alcohol. He said, "You become very sneaky when you have something like that in your life." He further added, "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." The actor is currently in recovery, as cited by Deadline.