Pegg: Not A Nerd « TrekToday

Pegg: Not A Nerd

British TV comedian Simon Pegg has spoken of
shaking off his nerdy reputation in favour of a Hollywood makeover as
he prepares for a summer of blockbuster success.

Known
for his distinct comedy brand of misfits and zombies, the actor has
bagged his first romantic lead as a sought-after catch in Man Up, while
his love interest instead plays the geek vying for his affection.

He
will also star alongside Tom Cruise for a second time in the latest
action-packed instalment of the Mission Impossible series Rogue Nation.

Despite
his upcoming roles in space-set Star Trek 3 and science fiction film
Absolutely Anything, he still hopes to “move on from that”.

He told the Sunday Times Magazine: “I’m not quite the nerdy man-child that everyone thinks I am.

“I
mean, I still love genre cinema, and I’m very excited to be in the Star
Trek films. But at home I’m not this toy-collecting, comic-book
reading, video gaming ... I’m just not, y’ know?

“And I’m kind of feelling like it’s time to move on from that, like that phase of my life might be coming to an end.

“I’d quite like to do some more films that aren’t necessarily, er... set in space.”

He described performing affectionate scenes for the big screen as a married man as “just peculiar”.

“For
a start I always end up punching above my weight with a leading lady
who’s younger than me and who wouldn’t even acknowledge me in a public
space.

“It is just a peculiar and not entirely healthy situation to find yourself in.”

The father-of-one added that his marriage to his ’non-celebrity’ wife Maureen keeps him from “floating off in to la-la-land”.

“...it’s important to have one sane person in the relationship. Actors and actresses tend to be... a little unhinged,” he said.

“You get two fragile egos in a relationship and it’s a recipe for disaster.

“Maureen is just a rock. She totally gets it all and keep incredibly grounded. I don’t get to float off into la-la land.”