Top 5 Simon Pegg Performances

They Call Him The King

From humble beginnings in British television all the way to sharing the screen with the likes of Tom Cruise and Chris Pine, this awesome uber-nerd often tops people’s lists for actors they want share a pint with. Given he has these five roles under his belt, it’s easy to see why.

#5: Gary King
“The World’s End” (2013)

We all know a Gary King. That guy we went to school with who refuses to grow up. And who better to play a big kid than Pegg. Determined to get his old mates together for a pub crawl, King sports the same goth stitches, obnoxious attitude and deluded self-importance as the old days, claiming he’s always on top of the situation even when he has no idea what’s going on. He’s loud, lewd and can’t take a hint, but when the locals go rogue, you’ll be glad he’s in your corner.

#4: Montgomery “Scotty” Scott
“Star Trek” franchise (2009-)

Another fanboy outing for Pegg as he boards the Starship Enterprise as reliable engineer Scotty. Together with his broad Scottish accent and affinity for worrying all the time, he’s the sensible companion you need when exploring the perils of space, although he can tussle and fend for himself when it comes down to it. And he gets into his own fair share of sticky situations, with Pegg’s hysterical mannerisms providing much of the franchise’s comedy and drama. Beam me up, er, Simon.

#3: Nicholas Angel
“Hot Fuzz” (2007)

Nicholas Angel, or is it Angle, is an exemplary, by the book police officer who gets forced to work in the countryside – and he soon detects that something’s not quite right in his idyllic setting. His sharp, city-born edges make for some hilarious scenes against the backdrop of an everyone knows everyone village, and before long shootouts, murders and dramatic send off lines ensue. Pegg and Frost star alongside each other again here, but watching Pegg play the reserved, boring stickler, is a sight we rarely get to see.

#2: Tim Bisley
“Spaced” (1999-2001)

In what is arguably Pegg’s truest portrayal of himself, Tim is a struggling comic book artist looking to make his mark, with useless flat mate Daisy along for the ride. From casually getting stoned in his flat to stubbornly debating “The Phantom Menace”, he’s simply a geek with too much time on his hands – so a relatable character for many. Flooded with pop culture references, “Spaced” was instrumental in launching Pegg’s career alongside director Edgar Wright, and it proved to the world that Pegg had a lot to offer the world of comedy.

#1: Shaun
“Shaun of the Dead” (2004)

The film that proved the zombie apocalypse can be funny and that the average Joe can survive it – given a decent cricket bat that is. Pegg plays Shaun, a 30-something loser with girlfriend problems and a dead-end job, who finds himself fighting for survival against the living dead. Throwing records, fleeing to the pub and doing his best zombie impression, Shaun has us saying “yep, I’d probably do that”, making him the perfect posterboy for the end of the world. But it’s not all just laughs, Pegg shows us his dramatic acting chops too.

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