Sacha Baron Cohen Got Toned as Hell for His Role in The Spy

Philip Ellis

December 13, 2019 5:09 PM

Anyone who lived through the '00s and the pop culture phenomenon that was Borat would be forgiven for saying they've seen enough of Sacha Baron Cohen's bare body to last a lifetime, but the comedian-turned-serious actor is looking drastically different these days. While preparing to play the real-life Israeli intelligence operative Eli Cohen in Netflix Original Series The Spy (for which he just received a Golden Globe nomination), Cohen lost weight and got considerably more toned.

Sacha Baron Cohen Got Lean AF for 'The Spy' Role

In an Instagram video shared by his wife Isla Fisher, Cohen showed off his newly lean physique while doing a set of bicep curls with 12.5 kilo dumbbells. Fisher wrote in the caption how proud she is of the progress he made while getting into character for the show, a process which involved "not just getting rid of his dad-bod (see video) but learning three dialects, including Syrian and living in Casablanca, mainly in character for 4 months while shooting."

While Cohen has always been on the slim side, even in that notorious green mankini, the visible six-pack abs are a new addition. And his transformation didn't go unnoticed: plenty of the couple's famous friends demonstrated their thirst in the comments, with Mindy Kaling saying "great now I'm turned on", talk host Chelsea Handler saying "it's important for us all to realize that Sacha is indeed hot," supermodel Helena Christensen saying "vacay can't come quick enough" and Courteney Cox simply adding: "Yes Sacha!!!!"

It's the second time this week that Fisher has taken to social media to praise Cohen; on Monday they celebrated eighteen years as a couple, with Fisher saying in an Instagram post that their romantic staying power is all down to their "synchronized snacking technique." All together now: mah wiife!

Cohen began his career with a late night show on Channel 4 in the UK, in which he played a gangster rap-loving character called Ali G. This show also included segments featuring his other two well-known characters; gay fashion reporter Brno, and of course, Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev, both of whom went on to have their own movies.

Cohen has also had roles in big screen musicals Sweeney Todd and Les Misrables, and was originally intended to play rock star Freddie Mercury in this year's Bohemian Rhapsody before creative differences led to the role going to Rami Malek . His Golden Globe nomination for The Spy marks the first time he has been nominated in a dramatic role, as opposed to a comedic performance or ensemble cast.

Philip Ellis