Sacha Baron Cohen Isn't Just a King of Comedy, He's a Bona-Fide Serious Actor

Updated on 10/7/2020 at 12:45 PM

When you think of Sacha Baron Cohen, your mind immediately goes to things like Borat Sagdiyev from Borat or King Julien from Madagascar. While he's best known for his ridiculous and often controversial characters — we haven't forgotten Brüno — every so often, Baron Cohen will venture out into somewhat dramatic roles. What's clear with both his comedic and dramatic roles is that he has a knack for disappearing into character.

When it was first announced that he'd joined the cast of The Trial of the Chicago 7, it seemed like an odd choice, and some people weren't sure if he could really do it. However, if you look at the roles he's chosen over the years, he's actually the perfect choice. It's his sheer dedication to any role that's the true mark of his brilliance as an actor. You can check out some of his best dramatic roles ahead.

Sacha Baron Cohen as Signor Adolfo Pirelli in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Pirelli is arguably Baron Cohen's first foray into the dramatic. An outlandish rival to Sweeney Todd, he at first seems to fit in with the rest of Baron Cohen's comedic roles with his appearance and drawn-out musical number; however, it's not until the "Italian" reveals himself as Sweeney Todd's former apprentice Daniel O'Higgins and tries to blackmail Todd that Baron Cohen's dramatic potential is revealed. Baron Cohen's ability to disappear into character is also on full display during the film, as he's well-known for "going undercover" with characters like Borat and Brüno, and Daniel is essentially undercover as Pirelli.

Sacha Baron Cohen as Inspector Gustave Dasté in Hugo (2011)

As Inspector Gustave Dasté, Baron Cohen was able to collaborate with director Martin Scorsese in order to craft a redeemable villain audiences wouldn't completely hate. "I wanted to know why he was obsessed with chasing children. Was he a classic villain or was there a reason for his malice?" Baron Cohen previously told The Georgia Straight. "He is dark, but he does have beauty and softness underneath him."

Sacha Baron Cohen as M. Thénardier in Les Misérables (2012)

Baron Cohen's role as thieving innkeeper M. Thénardier in Les Misérables is just the right balance of hilarity and dramatics. With songs like "Master of the House," Thénardier serves as the comedic relief to the dark tones of the film, yet overall he is a terrible person. Baron Cohen gives his all in the film, fully embracing the disgusting traits of the innkeeper just looking to get ahead in life. It makes his turn as Thénardier all that more believable and reminds us all that not only can he sing, but he can also act.

Sacha Baron Cohen as Time in Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)

Time earns a spot on this list because of a few shining moments throughout the film. While an antagonist through much of the movie, Time is both funny and vulnerable when needed. His talk with Alice at the end is a poignant moment that showcases what Baron Cohen can do when he's not going for a laugh.

Sacha Baron Cohen as Eli Cohen on The Spy (2019)

For years, Baron Cohen held off playing Israeli secret agent Eli Cohen in various projects because he was reluctant to transition from comedy to drama. "I've dabbled in straight drama beforehand, but there was always an air of comedy to those characters," Baron Cohen previously stated in an interview with Vanity Fair. "I kept on trying to go back to that crutch of saying, Let me make him a really funny character. And [creator Gideon Raff] was completely strict and said, 'No, let's commit to this.'" And it certainly paid off, as Baron Cohen received a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a miniseries or television film for his role.

Sacha Baron Cohen as Abbie Hoffman in The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020)

Baron Cohen has been tied to The Trial of the Chicago 7 since 2007, when it was originally planned for Steven Spielberg to direct with Will Smith as a potential star. Unfortunately, the financing for the film fell through, but writer and director Aaron Sorkin was finally able to complete his vision with the Netflix film. As Abbie Hoffman, Baron Cohen worked hard to perfect his voice but was terrified of doing an American accent. He also manages to steal the show in the ensemble cast, giving a performance that early reviews have already touted as Oscar-worthy.