Sacha Baron Cohen is a comedian, actor, writer, and producer who has drawn praise alongside criticism. His portrayal of satirical characters has entertained some while appalling others, birthing numerous controversies. Although Baron Cohen has been regarded as one of the best-living comedians of our time, his content may not be everyone’s cup of tea. At times, his portrayals can be a lot to take in.
In essence, the roles he is associated with are spoofs and caricaturish paradigms of qualities found in real people. With such conflicting depictions, debates are bound to occur. Nevertheless, numerous people have perceived his performances as revealing uncomfortable societal realities. They showcase the prejudices and indifference that exist all around us. While this form of comedy has resulted in several intriguing characters, Baron Cohen once revealed why he can’t play the roles he would like to embody or ones that interest him.
Sacha Baron Cohen On What He Would Like To Play
Joining renowned talents such as Don Cheadle, Jim Carrey, Ted Danson, and others, Sacha Baron Cohen engaged in The Hollywood Rreporter’s Comedy Actors Roundtable in 2019. The 1-hour uncensored discussion gave audiences a glimpse into the actors’ minds who have embodied characters we either laugh at or laugh with. During a segment of the show, the famed personalities were asked about the type of roles they are constantly approached for. This led industry veteran Henry Winkler to ask The Dictator star, “In your fantasy, what would you like to play?”
To this, Baron Cohen stated the following, subtly implying that he doesn’t play characters he would usually like playing:
“Things I’d like to play, I probably wouldn’t be very good at playing.”
With most of his satirical characters, people have lauded Sacha Baron Cohen for his commitment and dedication to their embodiment. We can only wonder which roles the comedy actor would like to play if he deems himself not very good at playing them.
Read also: Sacha Baron Cohen Revealed He Was Nearly Killed by Angry Mob While Filming Controversial Scene
Thankfully, the 51-year-old comic disclosed the genre he would like to experiment with if he were to play a role he enjoyed—tragedy comedy. Baron Cohen found the following attribute of the genre particularly intriguing:
“When I was at university […] I would play this genre […] called tragedy comedy […] The character starts off as really funny, the audience loves them, and in the second half, a tragedy happens. Because the audience loves you and is engaged with you more because you’ve made them laugh, they transition really quickly into getting sad and crying.”
A tragedy comedy premise starring Baron Cohen would be rather compelling. We wish the comedian luck in achieving his dream of portraying such a genre-bound character!
How Sacha Baron Cohen’s Characters Helped Him Traverse Fame
In the same roundtable discussion, the comedic actors were asked what they wished they had understood about juggling fame and success at the start of their careers. The eminent personalities differed in their answers. When Baron Cohen’s turn came, he stated the following:
“I was scared of becoming famous, but I managed to get away with it because I was lucky enough to have my characters be famous in England. For a few years, no one actually knew what I looked like. So, I was able to have the success without any of the—can I call it a hassle?”
With the aid of his on-screen personas, Sacha Baron Cohen was able to avoid becoming well-known for a while. The actor was able to make a reputation for himself in Hollywood and beyond with these roles, even though his characters and their unorthodox portrayals have gotten him into trouble numerous times. Barring the controversial aspects, the comedian has entertained the masses with these depictions. Even co-guest Jim Carrey commended Baron Cohen for his performance in Borat.
Read also: Sacha Baron Cohen Was Surprised After Working With Martin Scorsese in $185M Movie!
We can’t wait to see the day the renowned English actor plays a tragedy-comedy role suited to his liking.
Source: Comedy Actors Roundtable | Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
