Cinema.

Byline: TARA CAIN ..HDLN: Starting out in a blaze of glory

IN the unlikely event that the offers dry up for rising comic star Simon Pegg, he could always find a very welcome embrace within the long arm of the law.

The Gloucester-born star recently proved himself a natural at toeing the thin blue line while researching for his new movie Hot Fuzz.

Simon spent almost a year on call with officers from stations throughout the UK, and reckons it was one of the most thrilling experiences of his life.

"There was one police car ride that particularly stands out," he recalls with a gleeful grin. "We were driving down a country lane in Somerset when a voice came over the radio with an alert.

The police officer stuck on the blues and twos (lights and sirens) and we went hurtling down this country lane at 85 miles an hour. I was like, Oh my God!"

Simon shadowed police officers from London, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and says that during his time with the force he learned some surprising facts about our British bobbies.

"One force I learned there's a hierarchy of sugary snacks that officers are forced to buy for one another - a detail I included in the film.

"It was brilliant because these officers were so helpful and candid. We toured about 15 rural stations and met these guys and that's when the film really began to take shape."

The film is a culmination of a lifelong ambition for Simon, who admits to being an obsessive cops 'n' robbers fan.

And with Hot Fuzz looking like a guaranteed box office hit, Simon, who turns 37 this month, is set to join the ranks of Britain's brightest comedy stars - the Ricky Gervaises and Peter Kays.

Simon first came into our living rooms with his surreal TV comedy Spaced.

But it was his self-styled 'romzomcom' movie Shaun of the Dead that catapulted him to stardom.

The film was a surprise hit on both sides of the Atlantic and grossed more than EUR70 million worldwide.

It brought Simon to the attention of Hollywood and the star now boasts the likes of Tom Cruise, David Schwimmer, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin among his close friends.

The couple were guests at his wedding to wife Maureen McCann two years' ago and Simon is even godfather to their little girl Apple.

With offers flooding in from TV and film-makers on both sides of the Atlantic, the future is looking very arresting for the star.

Yet he insists the secret to his newfound success is simple.

"I'm obsessed with film and comedy," he laughs. "That's it. I'm a complete geek."

Star Profile

Real name: Simon John Pegg.

Birthdate: February 14, 1970.

Significant other: Wife of two years Maureen McCann.

Career high: His romzomcom-tastic box office smash hit Shaun of the Dead

Career low: God's Third Leg, his short-lived rock band.

Famous for: Turning one of the grizzliest horror movies Dawn of the Dead into one of the funniest: Shaun of the Dead.

Words of wisdom: On the first time he saw Star Wars: "It was like an awakening."

CAPTION(S):

COPS AND ROBBERS FAN... Simon Pegg stars in the high-octane police comedy Hot Fuzz (15), and (above left) going in all guns blazing with co-star Nick Frost.