This transcript provides a deep dive into Sacha Baron Cohen's multifaceted acting career, distinguishing between his highly improvisational, undercover, and often dangerous satirical characters (Ali G, Borat, Bruno) and his more traditional, scripted dramatic and comedic roles. Cohen discusses the meticulous preparation, the psychological toll, and the inherent risks his projects entail, emphasizing the importance of staying fully in character and constantly reading the reactions of unsuspecting subjects. He shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes, from a tense interview with Donald Trump as Ali G and a near-riot at a gun rally as Borat, to an accidental diplomatic incident and a physically dangerous UFC fight as Bruno. Additionally, Cohen sheds light on his collaborative process with esteemed directors like Martin Scorsese, Tom Hooper, and Alfonso Cuarón, revealing his approaches to character development, improvisation within structured narratives, and the profound social commentary embedded in much of his work.
Sacha Baron Cohen: The Art of Undercover Satire and Character Transformation
0:00 The Real Risks for Crew: Sacha Baron Cohen highlights that his unique filming approach often puts his crew at risk of violence, jail time, or expulsion, necessitating their strong belief in the project and his leadership.
0:30 Ali G's "Buffon" Origins: Ali G was developed through Philip Gaulier's clown teaching, rooted in "Buffon" – an early form of satire where marginalized people would mock authority figures through exaggerated portrayals, aiming to undermine power.
2:02 Confronting Donald Trump as Ali G: Cohen recounts a tense interview with Donald Trump, who initially mistook his producer for the interviewer and immediately disliked Ali G, requiring Cohen to push through Trump's obvious suspicion.
3:09 Undercover Character Strategy: When performing undercover, Cohen constantly reads the body language of the people around him for signs of suspicion, often having to "double down" on his character to maintain the illusion.
4:05 Tony Benn's Unexpected Reaction: Labour MP Tony Benn initially challenged Ali G's derogatory language towards women but later thanked Cohen, noting that young people were subsequently more interested in discussing socialism with him.
5:12 Borat's Diplomatic Blunder: In the early days of Borat (then Alexi Kzlar), Cohen, as a one-man band, encountered the real Moldovan Ambassador at a dinner and had to accuse him of being a spy to avoid his own cover being blown.
6:19 Immersive Borat: The Underwear Incident: An early Borat scene was almost ruined when his non-Kazakhstani underwear was spotted, leading Cohen to realize he had to become a "complete person" in character, ready for anything, often for hours or days.
7:20 Training Maria Bakalova for Borat 2: Cohen taught Maria Bakalova (who played Tutar) to channel her fear and adrenaline into her performance, believing her genuine terror on screen contributed to her captivating energy.
8:11 In-the-Moment Direction & Complicity: During improvised scenes with Maria, Cohen used subtle cues (like "Tish" to signal silence) to direct her, ensuring jokes landed effectively and demonstrating a strong "complicity" between them.
9:12 Near-Riot at Borat 2 Gun Rally: A scene at a COVID-era gun rally became extremely dangerous when Cohen was recognized; someone pulled a gun, and the crew had to make a high-speed ambulance escape while being surrounded by armed individuals. Cohen wore a bulletproof vest.
11:03 Humanizing Conspiracy Theorists: Living with conspiracy theorists Jim and Jerry for Borat 2 revealed them as kind human beings despite their outlandish beliefs, leading Cohen to conclude that misinformation is a crucial factor in people's behavior.
12:08 The Dictator's Pointy Missile Influence: Cohen's improvisation as The Dictator, insisting on "pointy" missiles, reportedly influenced Elon Musk to make SpaceX rockets more pointy for comedic reasons, even if it made them fly slightly worse.
13:41 Arab Spring Coincidence for The Dictator: The film, about a dictator trying to prevent democracy, was being shot during the Arab Spring, leading the team to adapt the ending to reflect the uncertain fate of democratic movements.
14:40 Talladega Nights Character & Improv: For Jean Girard, Cohen used his clown teacher Philip Gaulier's voice. He improvised the scene where he kisses Will Ferrell, which caused boos from the NASCAR audience.
16:06 Bruno's Dangerous UFC Fight: Filming Bruno's UFC scene in Arkansas involved intricate legal planning to avoid inciting a federal riot. Despite extensive security, Cohen's improvisation escalated to a point where a trained fighter entered the cage, forcing an emergency escape and a reshoot.
19:14 Playing Abby Hoffman in Chicago 7: Cohen, who studied Abby Hoffman in college, insisted on wearing period-accurate costumes and hair, viewing them as political statements. He developed a strategy of performing multiple, varied takes for editor Aaron Sorkin.
21:57 The "Greatest Dialect Coach": Cohen praises Tim Monich as the world's best dialect coach, with whom he worked after Hugo.
22:23 King Julien's Voice in Madagascar: King Julien's distinctive voice was eventually based on Cohen's sister-in-law's uncle, "Uncle Ton," who had a unique blend of Iraqi, Singaporean, and Australian accents.
23:22 King Julien's Development & Physicality: Cohen successfully advocated for King Julien to be an idiot with an intelligent sidekick, leading to extensive improvisational sessions. He also created the iconic "I like to move it, move it" song and all the character's physical mannerisms.
24:40 Improvisation with Martin Scorsese on Hugo: For his role as the Station Inspector, Cohen collaborated with Scorsese to add a physical disability and a love story. Scorsese even allowed him to improvise a scene (accidentally pushing a woman over) and surprisingly used it.
26:28 Les Misérables & Voice Strain: Joining Les Misérables late, Cohen collaborated with Tom Hooper on "Master of the House." Singing live caused him to lose his voice, forcing him to non-verbally direct the scene while preserving his voice for takes.
27:48 The Spy: Elie Cohen's Accents: Playing Israeli spy Elie Cohen, Cohen learned distinct Egyptian and Syrian accents to embody the character's dual identity, even if the nuances might only be discernible to Middle Eastern audiences.
29:25 Learning from Alfonso Cuarón on Disclaimer: Cohen views working with director Alfonso Cuarón on Disclaimer as an opportunity to learn and "steal techniques." He highlights Cuarón's dedication to visual perfection (with cinematographer Chivo Lubezki) and his willingness to prioritize a single, brilliant take over extensive coverage.