Simon John Beckingham, better known to you and me as Simon Pegg, kicked of his career in British sit-com before branching out into movies.
Beginning in comedy Pegg toured the circuit in London before attracting the attention of television producers which led to him moving into TV.
In 1999 he created popular comedy Spaced for channel four, which also starred Jessica Stevenson and Nick Frost, who would go on to be Pegg's comedy partner.
Spaced followed Tim Bisley and Daisy Steiner, who met in a cafe and barely know each other, who decide to pose as a couple to meet the requirements of an advertisement for a cheap flat up for rent.
It ran for two series and earnt Pegg a Best Male Comedy newcomer nomination at the British Comedy Awards and a Best TV Sitcom nod as well as season two earning BAFTA and Emmy nominations.
In 2004 he moved into British film writing and starring in zombie themed romantic comedy Shaun of the Dead, directed by Edgar Wright.
Shaun of the Dead, follows the title character (Simon Pegg) through his mundane life in London. Joined by his immature and ever-present roommate, Ed (Nick Frost), Shaun excels at nothing except drinking pints of ale and watching television, which causes friction with his girlfriend, Liz (Kate Ashfield).
Before Shaun can save his relationship, however, he's got to fend off a horde of zombies that are slowly taking over the city.
It was a critical and commercial hit and, despite a limited release, entered the top ten when it was released in America.
It was the big budget blockbuster that was next for Pegg when he appeared in Mission Impossible III as Ethan Hunt's I.M.F technician, leaving many asking if he was leaving behind the British film industry for the glitz and glam of Hollywood.
But he returned in 2007, once again working with Nick Frost, in Hot Fuzz starring as a London policeman who gets relocated to rural Sandford.
Upon release Hot Fuzz was rated as highly as Shaun of the Dead and went on to gross almost $80 million at the global box office, easily making back it's budget of $8 million.
More success followed with Run Fat Boy Run, which was directed by Friends star David Schwimmer and he returns this week with his new film How to Lose Friends and Alienate People alongside Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox and Jeff Bridges.
After How to Lose Friends and Alienate people he got his first major taste of the big budget blockbuster when he took on Star Trek.
The movie, which was directed by JJ Abrams was a reboot of the famous franchise as the movie saw Starship Enterprise setting out on it's maiden voyage.
Pegg took on the role of Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott in the film alongside Chris Pine, Zachary Qunito, Karl Urban and Zoe Saldana.
The movie was a critical hit, it's a great movie which you really should check out if you haven't seen, but it was perhaps not as big a success at the box office as it should have been.
After voicing the role of Buck in the Ice Age movies he is back on the big screen, alongside Andy Serkis, in Burke and Hare.
William Burke and William Hare are scratching out a living in 1830s Edinburgh. After yet another failed business venture, they return to Hare’s lodging house to find that their tenant has suddenly died on rent day.
As the boys decide how to dispose of the body over a drink, they discover that a corpse can fetch a hefty price.
And the movie horizon looks awfully rosy for the actor as he has already completed work on The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn and Paul and is currently filming Mission Impossible IV.
There is also a Star Trek sequel in the pipeline where he will reprise his role of Scotty.
Burke and Hare is released 29th October.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
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