Table of Contents
Who Is Sacha Baron Cohen?
Sacha Baron Cohen is a renowned comedian and actor, celebrated for his portrayal of eccentric, fictional characters that have pushed the boundaries of humor and social commentary. He initially gained fame with his satirical character Ali G, a wannabe rapper who conducted absurd interviews with unsuspecting celebrities on Da Ali G Show. Baron Cohen later introduced other iconic characters, such as Borat, the crude and oversexed journalist from Kazakhstan, and Brüno, an eccentric Austrian fashion correspondent. These characters made their way to the big screen, further solidifying Baron Cohen’s reputation for bold, often controversial humor. Additionally, he has appeared in films like Talladega Nights, Sweeney Todd, Hugo, Les Misérables, and starred in original roles in The Dictator and Grimsby.
Early Life
Sacha Noam Baron Cohen was born on October 13, 1971, in London, England. As the middle child in his family, he grew up in a suburb of London. His father ran several clothing stores, while his mother was a fitness instructor. Baron Cohen developed a passion for breakdancing during his teenage years and was actively involved in a Jewish youth group, where he began exploring acting.
After spending a year at a kibbutz in Israel, Baron Cohen pursued higher education at Christ’s College, Cambridge University, where he studied history. During his time at Cambridge, he became involved in the prestigious Cambridge Footlights, a comedy troupe known for producing some of the most influential figures in British comedy, including John Cleese, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, and Emma Thompson. Baron Cohen’s thesis focused on the role of Jewish Americans in the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. His research took him to Atlanta, where he interviewed activist Robert Parris Moses. While he was encouraged to continue his studies at the graduate level, Baron Cohen decided to follow a different path after earning his degree.
Da Ali G Show
Before gaining fame with his iconic characters, Baron Cohen honed his comedic skills through stand-up and smaller television roles. His breakthrough came in the late 1990s when he joined the late-night comedy program The 11 O’Clock Show. It was here that he first introduced Ali G, a white wannabe rapper with a distinctive and often baffling personality. The character gained significant attention, leading to his own series, Da Ali G Show, where Baron Cohen took Ali G to new heights by conducting absurd and often surreal interviews with politicians, writers, and other prominent figures.
The show’s success brought Ali G into the mainstream, including a cameo in Madonna’s 2000 music video for Music. Baron Cohen’s portrayal of Ali G also made its way to the big screen in the 2002 film Ali G Indahouse. Although the film was not a commercial success, the character of Ali G gained further recognition, especially in the United States, through a revamped version of Da Ali G Show. One memorable moment involved an interview with former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, where Ali G infamously asked, “Is Disneyland a member of the U.N.?”
Despite the character’s growing popularity, Baron Cohen faced criticism for perpetuating negative racial and cultural stereotypes, and was even the target of personal threats due to the provocative nature of his work. Nonetheless, his unconventional approach to comedy continued to resonate with audiences, solidifying his status as a unique and influential figure in the entertainment industry.
Borat Controversy
One of Sacha Baron Cohen’s most iconic characters is Borat Sagdiyev, a crude, oversexed, and bigoted television personality from Kazakhstan. Originally introduced on Da Ali G Show, Borat became the star of his own mocumentary film, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006). The film, which featured Borat’s travels across the United States interviewing unsuspecting individuals, was a surprise box office hit, grossing over $128 million. Its premise—Borat making a documentary about American culture—allowed Baron Cohen to highlight the prejudices and hypocrisies of American society through the character’s backward behavior.
Baron Cohen remained fully in character throughout the film to maintain its authenticity, which often led to disturbing encounters. He described the need to stay in character, even off-camera, to avoid raising suspicion. The film captured shocking moments, including an anti-Semitic sing-along in a bar and an uncomfortable confrontation with a group of misogynistic frat boys.
However, the film sparked considerable controversy. Several participants, including the frat boys, filed lawsuits claiming they had been deceived into appearing in the film. Baron Cohen defended his approach, stating that the participants’ racist or anti-Semitic remarks could not be excused simply because they were unaware of the film’s purpose. The government of Kazakhstan also protested, accusing Cohen of misrepresenting their country and its culture, particularly through Borat’s lewd antics and offensive portrayal of Kazakhstan’s wine production.
Despite the legal challenges, Borat became a critical and commercial success. Baron Cohen won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and the film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
In 2020, Baron Cohen reprised the role in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, which also received critical acclaim, winning the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and earning Baron Cohen another Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
‘Brüno’ and ‘The Dictator’
Following the success of Borat, Baron Cohen introduced a new character: Brüno, a flamboyant and controversial Austrian fashion correspondent. The 2009 film Brüno generated controversy before its release, including a lawsuit from a woman who claimed she was injured during production. During the 2009 MTV Movie Awards, Baron Cohen made headlines when he landed in rapper Eminem’s lap, exposing himself as part of a staged gag with Eminem. Despite mixed reactions to its portrayal of LGBT culture, Brüno performed well at the box office.
Baron Cohen’s next film, The Dictator (2012), saw him playing Admiral-General Aladeen, a ruthless dictator of the fictional country of Wadiya. The film used a more scripted narrative compared to his previous works but still featured Baron Cohen’s trademark outrageous humor. While it garnered some laughs, it did not receive the same level of critical acclaim as his earlier projects.
Other Film Roles
Outside of his own characters, Baron Cohen has appeared in various other films. He had a memorable supporting role in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) alongside Will Ferrell and in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) with Johnny Depp. As a voice actor, he voiced King Julien in Madagascar (2005) and its sequels. Baron Cohen also had a prominent role in Hugo (2011), as the station inspector, and starred in Les Misérables (2012) as Thenardier.
In 2016, he returned to his outrageous style in Grimsby, a raunchy action-comedy, before appearing as the character Time in Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016). In 2020, he received widespread praise for his role in The Trial of the Chicago 7, earning several award nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
‘Who Is America?’
In July 2018, Baron Cohen returned to television with Who Is America?, a satirical interview series on Showtime. The show featured Baron Cohen in several disguises, including a right-wing conspiracy theorist named Billy Wayne Ruddick, and Israeli anti-terrorist expert Erran Morad. The show received attention for its outrageous stunts, such as tricking former Vice President Dick Cheney into signing a “waterboarding kit” and convincing politicians to endorse absurd programs. The show sparked controversy when former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin accused Baron Cohen of duping her into an interview, which she later discovered was a setup.
Personal Life
Baron Cohen is notoriously private about his personal life, but it is known that he married Australian actress Isla Fisher in March 2010. The couple has three children: a daughter, Olive, born in 2007; a second daughter, Elula, born in 2010; and a son, Montgomery, born in 2015.