SmartLess "Sacha Baron Cohen"
Oct 14, 2024
Sacha Baron Cohen, the brilliant mind behind characters like Borat and Ali G, shares a lively mix of personal anecdotes and comedic tales. He discusses his thrilling shark diving experiences and the absurdity of life in clown school. The conversation dives into the challenges of authenticity in comedy and the complexities of political commentary through character work. Cohen also reflects on the risks of high-stakes adventures, revealing the fine line between thrill and danger, while humorously tackling the intricacies of acting and societal issues.
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Shark Attack
- Sacha Baron Cohen survived a shark-feeding frenzy in Moorea while getting his scuba diving license.
- The instructor's glove came off, and his regulator was knocked out, leaving Cohen alone with 12 sharks.
Early Character Work
- Sacha Baron Cohen's early character work involved real-world interactions, like commandeering a tourist bus and breakdancing in a pub.
- This led to police involvement and a chaotic return to the live TV show.
Lipton's Deception
- Will Arnett recounts how James Lipton claimed to have known Ali G was a character all along.
- Cohen reveals Lipton was completely fooled, even showing him a painting of his naked wife.