Simon Pegg credits the “Mission: Impossible” franchise with whipping him into shape.
The British actor joined the Tom Cruise action movies in 2006 as IMF technician Benji Dunn in “Mission: Impossible III” and told Page Six at the “Disclosure Day” premiere earlier this week that he’s “learned to take care of myself a little bit.”
“It really was ‘Mission: Impossible’ that taught me the joys of being well.”
Pegg, 56, said he started to get in shape because he “had to play a secret agent, so I kind of had to look like one and then I realized it was actually a lot of fun to look after yourself, like you might as well give yourself the best chance you can.”
The “Star Trek” star joked that he learned to enjoy foods that he perhaps previously ignored, like seeds.
“They’re amazing!” he exclaimed.
Pegg was at the splashy premiere because he’s pals with director Steven Spielberg, with whom he worked on “The Adventures of Tintin” and “Ready Player One.”
He explained that he loves being around the acclaimed director “because if you say, ‘Hey, Steven, what was it like on ‘Jaws?’ he’ll tell you. So for me, as a film fan who was so inspired by him growing up, to get that access to him has been a life highlight.”
Pegg agreed that he’s a “little bit” of a film nerd but declined to characterize himself as a regular nerd.
“Look at me,” he joked, “I’m well turned out!”
Pegg’s voice will be heard next year as Buck in the hugely successful “Ice Age” cartoon franchise.
“I love playing that character, and anytime the opportunity arises to do him, I’m more than right there,” he explained, noting he has no idea how much money he’s made from the flicks.
“I don’t think about that kind of stuff,” Pegg shared. “I do it for the love of it.”
Other celebs at the splashy Lincoln Center premiere included the movie’s stars, Emily Blunt, Colman Domingo, Josh O’Connor and Eve Hewson, along with John Krasinski, Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
