Simon Pegg: From Goldfish Poetry to Global Blockbusters

In a world of Hollywood glamour and blockbuster spectacle, few actors maintain the grounded humility and creative authenticity of Simon Pegg. Best known for his roles in the Mission: Impossible franchise and cult classics like Shaun of the Dead, Pegg’s journey from underground comedy to mainstream action films is not just inspiring—it’s a masterclass in career evolution, artistic integrity, and sticking to one’s roots.

Recently, Pegg sat down with comedian Ronny Chieng during a vibrant and laugh-filled appearance, marking the end of a grueling four-month international press tour. With stops from Tokyo to London, Cannes to Los Angeles, Pegg was promoting the latest installment of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning Part 2, a film that ties together nearly two decades of cinematic storytelling. But before he became an international star, Simon Pegg was handing out flyers on the streets of Edinburgh, trying to lure strangers into dingy pubs to watch his one-man comedy show featuring a Marxist goldfish named Rover.

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A Fringe Beginning

Pegg’s start at the legendary Edinburgh Fringe Festival offers a stark contrast to his current high-octane film career. “I had my goldfish with me. His name was Rover, and I used to perform poetry on his behalf,” Pegg recalled with a laugh. “He was a Marxist.” It was a quirky, audacious act—equal parts absurd and brilliant—that perfectly exemplifies the experimental spirit of the Fringe.

Like many performers, Pegg’s time in Edinburgh was characterized by long days spent handing out flyers and performing for small, often indifferent audiences. But it was also formative. “You hand out flyers all day long, maybe three people come. Then you go watch other shows, drink all night, wake up, and do it again,” he reminisced. The grind was real, but so were the rewards. “As a result of that, I got a tour of Australia. It opens a lot of doors, Edinburgh. A lot of people are there.”


From Indie Darling to Hollywood Mainstay

While Edinburgh may have sparked his career, Pegg’s transition into film and television was paved through stand-up and sketch comedy. “I always wanted to be an actor,” he shared, “but I didn’t have an agent, so stand-up was a way to perform.” This path led to Spaced, the cult sitcom he co-created with Jessica Hynes, directed by Edgar Wright. It was Spaced that laid the groundwork for their next project—the genre-defining Shaun of the Dead.

The zombie-comedy hybrid, directed by Wright and starring Pegg, became a global success despite its humble origins. “We had a moment in Spaced where I was fighting zombies, and Edgar and I thought, hey, we should make a zombie movie,” Pegg explained. After much persistence, they secured backing from Working Title, under Universal, and the rest is cinematic history.

Even more validating was the reaction from George Romero himself, the legendary creator of the modern zombie genre. “He watched Shaun of the Dead in a cinema in Florida—guarded by a Universal security guard like he was going to steal the movie. But we were just stealing his movie!” Pegg laughed. “He called us afterward. It was like speaking to dad.”


Mission: Legacy

Fast forward to today, and Pegg has become a core member of the Mission: Impossible franchise, playing Benji Dunn since the third installment. He acknowledges the irony of going from indie roots to starring alongside Tom Cruise in one of the most resource-intensive film series in history. “You go from trying to get enough money to get a camera rolling to Mission Impossible where they just say, ‘Take this money. Just keep spending it.’”

Yet, even on these massive productions, Pegg insists the essence of filmmaking remains unchanged. “The eye of the storm is always the same. It’s the actors, the crew. Everything around it just gets bigger.”

One defining feature of Mission: Impossible is its commitment to practical stunts. Pegg, like the rest of us, is still in awe of Cruise’s daredevil antics. “He’ll risk his life for cinema. There’s a scene where he’s base jumping, and mid-freefall he delivers a joke—with perfect timing!” Pegg marveled.

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Cinema in the Streaming Age

Pegg and Chieng also reflected on the changing landscape of film consumption. With the rise of streaming, audiences are more inclined to stay home—something Pegg sees as a loss for collective human experience. “A movie theater is a place where people with vast political differences can come together and feel the same emotions. It’s important,” he emphasized. “All it takes is one really cool film to get people back out there.”

That communal magic, the very heart of why Pegg loves movies, is something he fears we’re losing in a world where it’s just as easy to watch a film on a phone—on the toilet—as it is in a cinema. “Never watch Mission Impossible on your toilet,” he warned with a laugh, “although, this one might just justify it. It’s edge-of-your-seat.”


Tying It All Together

The latest Mission: Impossible film, according to Pegg, is a culmination of every story that has come before. “Chris McQuarrie, the director, did a really good job gathering all eight movies and making this one the culmination of all of them.” One of the earliest elements from MI3—the mysterious rabbit’s foot—is even tied into the final chapter.

The arc from a Marxist goldfish at the Fringe Festival to delivering high-stakes dialogue in the cockpit of a fighter jet reflects not only Pegg’s versatility but also his deep love for storytelling. And through it all—whether performing in a moldy cellar or flying across rooftops—Simon Pegg remains refreshingly self-aware, generous with credit, and utterly committed to the craft.

As he concluded the interview with heartfelt gratitude and humor, one thing was clear: Pegg isn’t just a great actor. He’s a storyteller who has never lost sight of what made him fall in love with performing in the first place.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning hits theaters May 23. Do yourself a favor—don’t stream it on your phone. Experience it the way Pegg would want: on the big screen, with strangers, sharing a moment of cinematic awe.