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Telegraph
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Sacha Baron Cohen doesn't realise his midlife post-divorce body is repellent to most women
'From Borat to buff,' the caption reads on the cover of Men's Fitness, along with a topless shot of… wait, that can't be Sacha Baron Cohen, can it? My first thought was oily biltong. My second thought was one of those comedy cooking aprons featuring a male torso. My third thought was: ooh, hench, what do you bench? No, of course it wasn't. It was this: I get the 53-year-old actor and comedy writer is now officially divorced from his wife, Isla Fisher, 49, but I'm not sure the revenge body thing is really working. Back in the day (1994, to be precise), Diana, Princess of Wales, stole the show with a daring off-the-shoulder black dress to signal her couldn't-care-less-but-actually-care-a-lot insouciance. I can't see why a Celine Homme polo shirt and Tom Ford linens wouldn't have done the trick for Baron Cohen. He's a dad with two daughters and a son, and therefore absolutely entitled – some would say obliged – to rock a dad bod. What his Australian ex-wife makes of it all is anyone's guess. The couple met at a party in 2001 and were engaged in 2004. The Wedding Crashers actress converted to Judaism to marry Baron Cohen in 2010. Although they announced their separation in 2024, they said it had happened a year previously. Both have been at pains to keep their personal lives private. But now that the privately educated Cambridge graduate has joined the Hollywood elite, he happily admits he brought in a crack team for his ripped glow-up, which he describes as 'a midlife crisis'. Plus, he has been cast as Marvel's supervillain devil Mephisto, who makes evil pacts with mortals in order to acquire their souls, which concentrated his mind. 'Some celebs use Ozempic, some use private chefs, some use personal trainers. I did all three,' he told the magazine. 'This is not AI, I really am egotistical enough to do this.' Given he was put through his daily workouts by someone called @theangrytrainer, his dedication, appropriately enough, verged on the demonic. It's a far cry from his wannabe gangsta Ali G character back in the 1990s, which led to his film about his shockingly inappropriate Kazakh journalist, Borat, in 2006, and then his mockumentary about monstrous Austrian fashionista Brüno three years later. In 2012, he played Admiral General Aladeen in The Dictator, billed as 'the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed'. Now a bona fide A-lister, Baron Cohen has clearly fallen prey to the literal arms race dominating the big franchises, which has seen male actors (and their body doubles) push their physiques into superhero proportions. Having presumably forgotten that superheroes aren't real. These days, muscle mass equals star power. On screen, at any rate. In Men's Fitness, Baron Cohen has found the perfect body-conscious audience for his great reveal, but I'm not sure how many women will find his pumped-up pecs a thing of beauty. It's great for any midlifers to have a stimulating hobby, and there's something deeply attractive about a man pursuing a passion. But there's something troubling when that passion turns out to be sculpting himself in the image of a cartoon character.
Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Why men like me admire Sacha Baron Cohen's ‘midlife crisis' makeover
Sacha Baron Cohen's muscular body on the cover of the latest Men's Fitness requires a leap of faith. When a man who adopts comic personas poses looking heroic and ripped on the front of a magazine, you can be forgiven for thinking, 'This has to be a trap. This has to be AI, a new character, a clever body suit that will allow him to expose our vanities and hypocrisies once again.' But no, it appears that Baron Cohen's frankly amazing body is the product of hours of training, combined with careful eating and possibly even weight-loss drugs, although with Baron Cohen it's impossible to know how serious he was when he quipped on Instagram, 'Some celebs use Ozempic, some use private chefs, some use personal trainers. I did all three. This is not AI. I really am egotistical enough to do this.' This happens to more and more men in midlife. The recently divorced 53-year-old actor is starring as Mephisto in the Marvel movie Ironheart, so got in touch with Matthew McConaughey's trainer and started working with steely discipline. I come to his transformation as someone just under ten years older who works out every day and has found himself the focus of well-meaning mockery for (counts on fingers) the past 45 years. While football, rugby and tennis have always been dignified ways for a man to spend his time, lifting weights so you can have cool muscles is deemed somewhat ridiculous. I understand totally. When I stand in front of a full-length mirror to perform a biceps curl there is, even after all this time, just the faintest hint of Eye of the Tiger playing ironically somewhere in my head. But it works, it feels astonishingly good and it's a way of telling the world you are still very much alive. The phrase 'still got it' is fired at older people who have made some undignified attempt at sexy and found themselves with egg and fake tan on their face. But trying to hang on to 'it' is human, hard work and, I think, totally admirable. • Read our expert advice on healthy living, fitness and wellbeing With this in mind I'm seeing two kinds of middle-aged man emerging: the age-accepters and those who challenge decrepitude to come and find them among the machines and dumbbells of their local gym. What is clear is that when a man of a certain age decides to commit, there is no heart gadget, protein shaker or clingy vest that we will not at least think about buying. Cohen says his workout regime with the celebrity trainer Alfonso Moretti stops his mind spinning. 'Instead of lying in bed overthinking and staring at my phone, I get up, jump on FaceTime and train with Alfonso. It sets a positive tone for the whole day.' In our fifties, sixties and beyond, having a purpose and a constructive goal really helps. Knowing I'll be in the gym or on a run at some point every day gives me structure when otherwise, like Baron Cohen, I'd be an Olympic-standard overthinker. The midlife male makeover is obviously rich comedy material and Baron Cohen has declared his midlife crisis before others take aim. The question for later-life men is not 'am I having a crisis?', it's 'what kind of crisis do I want to have?' We all confront mortality, invisibility, loss of sexual appeal and having to use reading glasses in dark restaurants: the task is to work out the most constructive way to deal with all that. I say to all the men out there thinking they too might swap some of their pints for protein shakes, it's never too late and your body will respond to the work you put in. When you feel silly working out, remember that if the man who gave us Borat and Ali G managed to overcome his sense of the absurd, so can you.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sacha Baron Cohen Shocks Fans With Muscular Body Transformation to Play Marvel's Mephisto: ‘This Is Not AI… Hard Launching My Mid-Life Crisis'
Sacha Baron Cohen is shocking fans with his Men's Fitness U.K. cover story, which includes photos of the muscular body transformation he underwent before filming scenes as Mephisto in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 'Borat' creator debuted as the infamous comic book villain in the Disney+ series 'Ironheart' earlier this summer. 'Some celebs use Ozempic and some use private chefs, others use personal trainers. I did all three,' Cohen quipped on his Instagram story while sharing the shirtless photos of himself. He also told fans: 'This is not AI. I really am egotistical enough to do this.' More from Variety Kevin Feige on Marvel Studios' Future, Focusing on Lower Budgets, Less TV and More Robert Downey Jr.: 'Look at "Superman," It's Clearly Not Superhero Fatigue' Marvel Plans to Recast the X-Men and (Eventually) Tony Stark After 'Avengers: Secret Wars,' But 'Reboot Is a Scary Word,' Says Kevin Feige John Malkovich's Red Ghost Cut From 'Fantastic Four'; Director Says 'It Was Heartbreaking Not to Include Him' (EXCLUSIVE) Cohen wrote in other posts: 'Debuting my new character: Middle-aged man who replaced beer with protein shakes… Hard launching my mid-life crisis.' Marvel fans originally expected Mephisto to pop up years ago in 'WandaVision,' and Baron Cohen was always at the top of fan-casting wishlists. 'Ironheart' producer and 'Black Panther' director Ryan Coogler told Variety last month that he was thrilled Marvel waited until 'Ironheart' to debut Baron Cohen's Mephisto. 'I just absolutely love that we're not meeting him in 'WandaVision' or 'Agatha [All Along].' You're meeting him through this stressed-out, young Black genius,' Coogler said. 'When you watch the show, it's like, 'Oh, that was how you always were gonna meet him.' It wasn't gonna be in 'Loki.' That's the trickster; that's how he works. That's where he's gonna be: in a pizza shop in Chicago, like, where you would absolutely never expect him.' Head writer Chinaka Hodge said the decision to introduce Baron Cohen's Mephisto was a 'collaborative' one, adding: 'I could tell the story about process, and you would know how benevolent Kevin Feige is. But I will say that it was a collaborative effort, where we all landed on Mephisto together, but there was one of us in the room who led us there, and I'm eternally grateful for him leading us that direction.' It's currently unknown when Baron Cohen will pop up again as Mephisto in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he'll certainly be in great shape whenever that time comes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Men's Fitness UK (@mensfitnessuk) Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'Hard launching my mid-life crisis': Sacha Baron Cohen stuns fans with shredded new physique at 53 after finalising $250 million divorce from Aussie actress Isla Fisher
Sacha Baron Cohen has gone from Borat to gym rat, unveiling a head-turning new physique just weeks after finalising his divorce from Australian actress Isla Fisher. The 53-year-old comedian and actor surprised fans on Wednesday by revealing his dramatic physical transformation in the August issue of Men's Fitness UK, flaunting defined abs, bulging biceps and a completely smooth chest- worlds away from his famously hirsute alter-ego. Baron Cohen, who is preparing to play Marvel villain Mephisto in the upcoming Ironheart series, gave fans a cheeky glimpse at the cover via Instagram Stories, writing: "This is not AI, I really am egotistical enough to do this," while posing shirtless and lifting 60kg weights with apparent ease. In another post featuring his muscular back during a pull-up, he quipped: "Some celebs use Ozempic, some use private chefs, others use personal trainers. I did all three." Leaning into his signature satire, the father-of-three added: "Hard launching my mid-life crisis," before introducing a new comedic persona: "Middle-aged man who replaced beer with protein shakes." In yet another slide, Baron Cohen shared a photo of himself channelling a serious blue steel gaze while sitting on a gym bench, thanking personal trainer Alfonso Moretti for "doing the unthinkable- putting up with me for 25 mins a day." Though his captions were filled with self-deprecating humour, it's evident that the newly single star has dedicated significant effort to achieve his new revenge body. In a preview of the cover story obtained by Deadline, the Borat star reportedly admitted that he began his fitness journey with "the core strength of an arthritic jellyfish." Determined to turn things around, Baron Cohen reached out to Matthew McConaughey, whom he dubbed a "buff peer", for help, and was soon connected with Moretti, a trainer known as 'The Angry Trainer' on Instagram. Moretti described the actor's body as resembling "a ruler, straight up and down" but said he quickly recognised "an athlete in hiding." Sharing his client's impressive results online, Moretti wrote: "Not only did he earn better health and fitness with incredible aesthetics… but also… the cover of Men's Fitness! Tell me he doesn't look absolutely incredible!" The physical reinvention comes shortly after Baron Cohen and Fisher announced they had finalised their split. The couple, who met in Sydney in 2000 and were together for more than two decades, confirmed their separation in April 2024, before finalising what was reportedly a $250 million divorce just last month. "Our divorce has now been finalised," the pair wrote in a joint message on social media in June. "We are proud of all we've achieved together and, continuing our great respect for each other, we remain friends and committed to co-parenting our wonderful children." Baron Cohen's gym-honed look has drawn praise from fans and fellow celebrities alike. Gal Gadot commented with a fire emoji, while Chelsea Handler joked, "Is this AI?" gaining over 700 likes at time of writing. Others were quick to link the transformation to his newly single status. "Someone just got divorced!" one fan commented, while a second said: "Divorce is the best type of protein." Another added: "I'm sorry, but thirst trap Borat was not on my 2025 bingo card", while a fourth chipped in: "And he's 53. Dude looks incredible."
Sky News AU
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'Cute': Isla Fisher shares a very telling post on social media just days after finalising her divorce from Sacha Baron Cohen
Isla Fisher has shared a very telling photo on social media just days after she finalised her divorce from actor Sacha Baron Cohen. The Australian actress, 49, took to Instagram on Monday to share a sultry snap of three tanned and shirtless firefighters holding puppies. The sculpted men wore nothing but a pair of yellow firefighter pants and boots. They held the pups up to their shoulders, showing off their chiseled abs and arms. 'Look at those cute puppies,' Fisher cheekily wrote. The Confessions of a Shopaholic actress' telling post could suggest she has begun to cast her eye around and is ready to find love again. It comes after she and Baron Cohen, who won a Golden Globe Award for starring in Borat, announced they had finalised their £120 million (AU$251 million) divorce in a joint statement released via social media on Friday. 'We are proud of all we have achieved together and, continuing our great respect for each other, we remain friends and committed to co-parenting our wonderful children,' the statement read. 'We ask for the media to continue to respect our children's privacy.' Amid their divorce, Fisher and Baron Cohen, 53, co-parent their three children, Olive, 18, Elula, 15, and Montgomery, 10, while living in the UK. The actress shared a Father's Day tribute to her ex-husband on social media on Tuesday, showing that the pair remain very much friends. 'Happy Father's Day to the best father our children could hope for," she wrote over a photo of the Borat star lovingly holding one of their children. Despite the rosy picture, the Australian actress previously opened up about the challenges of co-parenting after the couple separated. 'It's the most difficult thing that I've been through, and I've learnt so much about myself in the process,' Fisher told The Sunday Times in February. 'I never imagined my family being separated, but we are committed and loving parents.' Fisher and Baron Cohen first met at a party in Sydney in 2001, and they tied the knot in Paris in 2010 after Fisher converted to Judaism. The pair announced their separation in April last year, sharing a joint statement on social media. "After a long tennis match lasting over 20 years, we are finally putting our racquets down," they wrote alongside a photo of themselves in tennis whites. They went public with their split just days after Australian actress Rebel Wilson accused Baron Cohen of sexually harassing her during the filming of Grimsby in 2016, in which Fisher also had a role. A spokesperson for Baron Cohen denied the claims in Wilson's autobiography Rebel Rising, calling them "demonstrably false" and "defamatory". Fisher's career in the spotlight remains unwavering despite her personal life. In February, she led the voice cast on the animated film Dog Man and appeared in a cameo role in the new Bridget Jones sequel. She has also recently consolidated her property portfolio after selling off an apartment in Sydney's ritzy Woollahra. It is understood the former Home and Away actress no longer owns property in the country after the sale in Woollahra.
