Sacha Baron Cohen has called his acting roles as ‘his little bit to fight for democracy’ as he joined a star-studded lineup in the 27th Annual Hollywood issue of Vanity Fair.
The actor, posed for the shoot appearing to clean up the Oval Office with a 1960s-inspired hoover, as he detailed his decision to strategically release his latest picture Borat Subsequent Moviefilm just weeks before the Presidential Election.
Sacha added that despite the political tone of his recent film his fans should take everything he says ‘with a grain of salt.’
Interview: Sacha Baron Cohen has called his acting roles as ‘his little bit to fight for democracy’ as he cleaned up the Oval Office in a shoot for Vanity Fair’s 27th annual Hollywood issue
In one snap from the vast shoot, Sacha, who has received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the film, donned a green blazer to pose inside a replicate of the US President’s Office.
Hinting at the fallout from Donald Trump’s controversial stint in the White House, the actor appear ready to clean things up following the election of Joe Biden.
Sacha was self-effacing about his recent roles telling the magazine his work is ‘his little bit fight for democracy.’
He added: ‘I am a comedian. I am an actor. I am not a political theorist, I am not a politician, I am not an academic. I would take whatever I say with a pinch of salt.’
A new look: The actor joined a star-studded lineup including Zendaya, Michael B. Jordan and Awkwafina on Vanity Fair’s most diverse cover yet
Sacha has never shied away from dividing fans with his performances, having starred in and produced films including Borat and its sequel, Bruno, and The Dictator.
He went onto detail the recent timing of the release of his Borat sequel ahead of the US election.
He said: ‘Probably the most successful element of it was that it discredited Rudy Giuliani on the day that he was trying to torpedo Biden’s campaign by delivering this hard drive that supposedly contained material on it that would have been negative for Biden.
‘While he was on his way to doing that, the Borat movie came out, and Giuliani, rather than being on the offensive, was on the defensive. Giuliani was spearheading the campaign to delegitimise the election results, and he was not seen as a credible source.
‘Some of that was his own doing, holding press conferences outside of the wrong Four Seasons.
‘[But] I think the image of him on the bed with his hands down his trousers is not one you want from your top legal expert if you’re trying to undermine the largest election in history.’
Sacha has also landed a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the Netflix film The Trial of the Chicago 7, with the ceremony, delayed by the Covid pandemic, scheduled to take place on Sunday.
This year’s Vanity Fair Hollywood has been the magazine’s most diverse yet, with stars including Michael B Jordan, Zendaya and Awkwafina gracing the cover.
Vanity Fair’s issue is ‘celebrating the actors, producers, and directors who pushed storytelling forward with hope and humanity during a surreal year.’
The portfolio focuses on how ‘interpreting this year’s events has become central to their work,’ and how the transformation the entertainment industry has undergone ‘could present an opportunity for more lasting, positive change.’
‘We could not have asked for a more talented, transcendent cast of characters than our cover stars this year,’ editor in chief Radhika Jones wrote in a letter for the issue.
‘Their work has earned them new audiences on new platforms, rose to new creative heights, delved into new emotional depths, and brought catharsis, humor, and gratification.
‘They have helped push the boundaries of what entertainment can be, and the stories it can convey, whether in a theater or on your television or someplace in between. This issue exists to celebrate Hollywood and take measure of its evolution, and on both fronts, we found plenty to talk about.’
See the full feature in the Hollywood Issue of Vanity Fair available via digital download and on newsstands Friday 26th February.
Praise: Sacha has landed a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the film, alongside his co-star Maria Bakalova