Simon
Pegg has established himself as one of Britain's best screen comedy
actors and writers, since his 2004 spoof film, Shaun of the Dead.
The former stand-up comic from Gloucester made his TV debut in the 1995
series, Six Pairs of Pants. But for years he was just another
face as he played a variety of characters in series like Is It Bill
Bailey? and Hippies. He was finally noticed for his role
as Tim Bisley in the television series, Spaced. He is now cast
in leading film roles, like Big Nothing, opposite ex-Friends
star, David Schwimmer. It was filmed on the Isle of Man and in Wales,
even though it was supposed to be America. Pegg lives with wife Maureen
- they married in July, 2005 - in London.
What
appealed to you about Big Nothing?
The writing. It was artful and funny. If you are a writer, you're always
looking for something which is going to be a surprise. This was, because
I couldn¹t anticipate what was going to happen next. And my character,
Gus, seemed a loveable sort of guy. He’s a bad boy, but not evil.
How
difficult was it to deliver an American accent?
I needed tuition. I had a voice coach on set and she worked on the sounds
of key words between scenes. An American accent is actually very difficult.
We all think we can do one - and it sounds hopeless. It is not a lazy
sound.
What
was the biggest surprise about filming?
Having to do a naked sex scene with Alice Eve on my first day of meeting
her. It was a case of:'Hi, I'm Simon - climb on board.' She then had
to bounce up and down on me. It's ridiculous what we do for a living.
What
was it like working with David Schwimmer?
You can't help but be taken by his fame because of Friends.
We did work together a few years ago in the TV series, Band of Brothers,
but we did not hang out. He was still in Friends and I remember
him calling up, because they were filming one of the last episodes of
the series. He was on the phone to them all. It was quite odd. I was
impressed. So, yes, it is odd.
Why
do you think he does these small budget projects?
He was looking for something else apart from Friends. It was
really hard for him. Friends was such a presence in TV culture.
It is on all the time.
People say 'oh, it's just Ross, isn't it?' It is hard to break away
from playing a regular freedom. He knows that he will be linked to it
for a long time.
Do
you think that Big Nothing was a culture shock for him?
When we were filming throughout the night in freezing locations in Wales,
it was a culture shock to us all. We were hit by some terrible weather.
When
- and why - did you start in this business?
I had always written comedy, even when I was a student at Bristol University.
It was always something that interested me - it affords you freedom,
as part of the whole process. You are not hanging around as an actor,
waiting for the phone to ring to be offered something. That is the way
I enjoy working.
Is
stand-up comedy as frightening as it always sounds?
I hear this all the time and it is something I do not understand. For
a stand up it is the most immediate and freeing place you can be - so
long as you know the material is good. When I write new material, I
work it in to the act. Invariably the early venues are small. You do
stuff that you know works well.
What
was the first job you were paid for?
I was an extra in a German film when I was 12 at Gloucester docks. But,
aside from my stand up, I did a sketch show called Six Pairs of
Pants for Meridian TV in 1995 with Jessica Stevenson and Sally
Phillips. It was only ever on Meridien. I was four years out of university.
What
were you living on?
I was living in Bristol, doing stand up, hanging about...I did not rush
to achieve success. I just did the comedy circuit. I was making enough.
The person who ran The Tongue in Cheek, which was at the Mauritania
at the bottom of Park Street in Bristol called my agent who was booking
comedy clubs in London and told them about me. I moved to London and
tried to make a go of it.
Do
you enjoy fame?
It is not entirely positive. But it surprises me as fame is a by-product
of what you do. It is quite sort of...restricting. But it does enable
you do lots of great things. You don't have to turn in to a monster.
David Schwimmer, for example, handles it all incredibly well.
Who
do you most admire?
You would go a long way to beat Jim Broadbent. He does brilliant stuff,
he's in a variety of things from Britain to Hollywood. He is just an
actor. He has remained fairly ordinary. The key is not to be seen too
much.
What
is your own method of writing?
My writing partner, Edgar Wright, and I go in an office at nine and
work to six, with a break for lunch. We watch loads of films at the
outset, if we are taking on a specific genre. We write our ideas down
on flip cards or charts. If we think of a really good joke, we might
take the rest of the day off!
Are
you pleased with your latest movie, Hot Fuzz?
We are certainly pleased with the cast we've been able to attract, like
former James Bond Timothy Dalton. We also had Ken Cranham, Billie Whitelaw,
Paul Freeman - we just sent the script to people and they said yes.
Jim Broadbent said after Shaun of the Dead if you do something
else, I will be in it. So he's there, too.
Why
don¹t you have a Gloucestershire accent?
I lived in Gloucester until 16, then Stratford upon Avon, then Bristol
and, finally, London for 13 years. My mum never picked up a strong accent,
either. I think some people do - others don't.
Are
you really godfather to Gwyneth Paltrow's and Chris Martin's child,
Apple?
Yes - I have known Chris for years, well before he and Coldplay were
well known. It was nice to be asked.
You
did not marry an actress?
She is not in this business and I am keeping her out of it. Knowing
how nutty actors are, we are all fairly needy people. I think if you
get two of those people together, it is a recipe for disaster.
Who
makes you laugh?
Morecambe and Wise and Laurel and Hardy. Growing up as a kid, the whole
Comic Strip thing was an inspiration, plus The Pythons, which
my dad loved.
by James Ashwood
Big
Nothing
Simon
Pegg, Alice Eve
and Jean-Baptiste Andrea
Simon
Pegg
Hot Fuzz: Simon Pegg,
Nick Frost and Edgar Wright
