Recently, we’ve seen Sacha Baron Cohen General Aladeen promoting his new movie The Dictator by doing all sorts of shenanigans, like dumping ashes on Ryan Seacrest or “murdering” Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis.
The guy never wavers or goes out of character and there’s hardly an eye flicker to ruin the joke. That’s why it’s so interesting that Sacha Baron Cohen gave a rare interview dressed out of character. Naturally, it was BBC, because if you’re going to do a serious interview, you may as well do it with them.
Cohen looked pared down in a beige suit without the beard and entourage of female guards. We also got a chance to hear his real voice and swanky British accent. Speaking to BBC’s Will Gompertz in Cannes, he joked that granting this interview out of character was probably a mistake.
Previously, he never granted personal interviews because he was afraid his characters would be compromised when people recognized him. Although doing interviews as Ali G and Borat could be seen as a publicity stunt, he said it was to protect the comedy and the movie.
He also said his new film The Dictator was developed because he always found Gaddafi “hilarious,” which is as good a reason as any.
