Sacha Baron Cohen

So I go over to these guys, And I'm basically on my skateboard and I'm playing this early Ali G character. And they thought I was real.

So I go over to these guys, And I'm basically on my skateboard and I'm playing this early Ali G character. And they thought I was real.

And after about three minutes, I said, guys, you know, I'm not... You know, I'm not real. This is just, you know, I'm playing along. They were completely freaked out. Right. And then a tourist bus came. I jumped on the tourist bus. I commandeered it. I started rapping. Got off the bus. Went into a bus. Sasha, what year was this maybe? This was, I think, 1995 or 4. Okay.

And after about three minutes, I said, guys, you know, I'm not... You know, I'm not real. This is just, you know, I'm playing along. They were completely freaked out. Right. And then a tourist bus came. I jumped on the tourist bus. I commandeered it. I started rapping. Got off the bus. Went into a bus. Sasha, what year was this maybe? This was, I think, 1995 or 4. Okay.

Anyway, I basically go into a pub. I start breakdancing. They call the police. I go into some big business. I claim that my dad's upstairs and he's the CEO. They call security. We run back to this live TV show. I run. They put on my normal clothes. And this guy, this legendary guy, who's an editor at Ealing Studios, is editing while I'm on air. This is... This is the days of pneumatics.

Anyway, I basically go into a pub. I start breakdancing. They call the police. I go into some big business. I claim that my dad's upstairs and he's the CEO. They call security. We run back to this live TV show. I run. They put on my normal clothes. And this guy, this legendary guy, who's an editor at Ealing Studios, is editing while I'm on air. This is... This is the days of pneumatics.

This is, he's like cutting, you know, everything's losing full frame. And he's adding music. And this guy was a kind of legendary guy. Wow. And I'm cutting to this stuff and it's, you know, me with real people. So it was the first time that it was a comic character with real people.

This is, he's like cutting, you know, everything's losing full frame. And he's adding music. And this guy was a kind of legendary guy. Wow. And I'm cutting to this stuff and it's, you know, me with real people. So it was the first time that it was a comic character with real people.

You're right. I'm not really answering your question at all. This was like the first time I ever did... you know, characters in the real world.

You're right. I'm not really answering your question at all. This was like the first time I ever did... you know, characters in the real world.

Well, I think in a way, Ali G was kind of a undermining of the establishment. It was essentially saying, okay, these people that run society... they are completely out of touch with society so much that they will believe that this guy is real, despite him asking the most absurd questions ever.

Well, I think in a way, Ali G was kind of a undermining of the establishment. It was essentially saying, okay, these people that run society... they are completely out of touch with society so much that they will believe that this guy is real, despite him asking the most absurd questions ever.

You're not going to criticize Hitler again, are you?

You're not going to criticize Hitler again, are you?

Stop it.

Stop it.

I was furious. I was weeping. It's one of the weirdest positions. I was weeping at the Vanity Fair party.

I was furious. I was weeping. It's one of the weirdest positions. I was weeping at the Vanity Fair party.

No, he didn't. No, he had absolutely no idea. Because he took me off camera after we'd finished the interview, back to the other room. And so, you know, I was still in character. He completely believed who I was. And that thing showed me like a painting... of a naked woman. Of his wife. Yes, is that possible? It's of his wife.

No, he didn't. No, he had absolutely no idea. Because he took me off camera after we'd finished the interview, back to the other room. And so, you know, I was still in character. He completely believed who I was. And that thing showed me like a painting... of a naked woman. Of his wife. Yes, is that possible? It's of his wife.

Yeah, and he goes, that is my wife. Yeah. Which you wouldn't do if you thought, and I was like, yo, man, yo, she is, man, I was boned out, yo.

Yeah, and he goes, that is my wife. Yeah. Which you wouldn't do if you thought, and I was like, yo, man, yo, she is, man, I was boned out, yo.

There we go. You've verified the story. That is fact-checking. We have just fact-checked. There you go. We've established me as a reliable witness.

There we go. You've verified the story. That is fact-checking. We have just fact-checked. There you go. We've established me as a reliable witness.

Yeah, it's my naked wife. My wife. That's James Lipton. She was beautiful, by the way. She was beautiful. I'll bet. Classically, if we use those kind of ways to categorize women. Sure. What does that even mean?

Yeah, it's my naked wife. My wife. That's James Lipton. She was beautiful, by the way. She was beautiful. I'll bet. Classically, if we use those kind of ways to categorize women. Sure. What does that even mean?

Sorry, sorry.

Sorry, sorry.

Interrupted. I thought I was waiting for that sliver. You threw me a line. A little early.

Interrupted. I thought I was waiting for that sliver. You threw me a line. A little early.

And then there was an awp. Then there was an awp. With the last Borat movie, there was quite a lot of that stuff. And actually, I mean, we did, there was a scene at a gun rally, which got quite hairy.

And then there was an awp. Then there was an awp. With the last Borat movie, there was quite a lot of that stuff. And actually, I mean, we did, there was a scene at a gun rally, which got quite hairy.

Yes, it was. I mean, the people with semi-automatics and automatics in the audience, and it was a militia, unfortunately, that had organized it that then didn't take it very well. And I was singing a song called The Wuhan Flu. That's right. I mean, where does the fearlessness come from, though? Well, I'll tell you the truth.

Yes, it was. I mean, the people with semi-automatics and automatics in the audience, and it was a militia, unfortunately, that had organized it that then didn't take it very well. And I was singing a song called The Wuhan Flu. That's right. I mean, where does the fearlessness come from, though? Well, I'll tell you the truth.

With that scene, because we knew that there were going to be, you know, basically it was a gun rally. It was in the middle of COVID. We were the only movie shooting. And so, you know, my security said, listen, you need to have a bulletproof vest on. And so I put on the bulletproof vest and I said, they go, that's fine for pistols.

With that scene, because we knew that there were going to be, you know, basically it was a gun rally. It was in the middle of COVID. We were the only movie shooting. And so, you know, my security said, listen, you need to have a bulletproof vest on. And so I put on the bulletproof vest and I said, they go, that's fine for pistols.

And they said, I go, what happens if somebody shoots the, you know, semi-automatic? And, you know, it's not just one person. So they built, so I was singing on stage. So they built an amplifier that was pretty much, So they basically said, you know, if people stop really shooting with the semi-automatics, go behind the amplifier and you'll be safe. Jesus! It's unbelievable.

And they said, I go, what happens if somebody shoots the, you know, semi-automatic? And, you know, it's not just one person. So they built, so I was singing on stage. So they built an amplifier that was pretty much, So they basically said, you know, if people stop really shooting with the semi-automatics, go behind the amplifier and you'll be safe. Jesus! It's unbelievable.

And so the thing is, you know, you're in the scene, I'm on stage, And, you know, you have this kind of conflict between, you know, I'm terrified. And then you also have, I need to get the scene. So you want to, so I was doing, you know, the same verse again, because I felt I hadn't got a good take of it.

And so the thing is, you know, you're in the scene, I'm on stage, And, you know, you have this kind of conflict between, you know, I'm terrified. And then you also have, I need to get the scene. So you want to, so I was doing, you know, the same verse again, because I felt I hadn't got a good take of it.

People were getting more and more, you know, they realized at some point that it was me on stage. There was somebody actually undercover from Black Lives Matter. had infiltrated this gun rally. Yeah. And basically they recognized me and word spread that it was me. And then people started trying to storm the stage.

People were getting more and more, you know, they realized at some point that it was me on stage. There was somebody actually undercover from Black Lives Matter. had infiltrated this gun rally. Yeah. And basically they recognized me and word spread that it was me. And then people started trying to storm the stage.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, he's dead, but we gave him such a beautiful funeral.

Yeah, he's dead, but we gave him such a beautiful funeral.

Yeah, he went away so well. He had such a beautiful and reasonable funeral.

Yeah, he went away so well. He had such a beautiful and reasonable funeral.

Yes, I mean, on the last movie as well, there were these two guys I spent three days in a house with called Jim and Jerry. And they were... Wait, this is Bruno, right? No, this was Borat 2. Oh, right, right, right, right. You know, they believe that Hillary Clinton drank the blood of children and, you know, COVID was a conspiracy and... and that Hillary had killed kids.

Yes, I mean, on the last movie as well, there were these two guys I spent three days in a house with called Jim and Jerry. And they were... Wait, this is Bruno, right? No, this was Borat 2. Oh, right, right, right, right. You know, they believe that Hillary Clinton drank the blood of children and, you know, COVID was a conspiracy and... and that Hillary had killed kids.

But they were actually... They were nice people. They were good people. They were just... And so you suddenly realise they're... And they're actually feminists because, well, when I was, you know, when I was being... When Porto was being a misogynist about his daughter, they were like, they took it upon themselves to teach me that it was important to be respectful to your daughter.

But they were actually... They were nice people. They were good people. They were just... And so you suddenly realise they're... And they're actually feminists because, well, when I was, you know, when I was being... When Porto was being a misogynist about his daughter, they were like, they took it upon themselves to teach me that it was important to be respectful to your daughter.

And if she wanted to do her own thing, she should do. So they... They were actually good guys. And you suddenly realized... And it was a surprise, right? Because they had those views. And you want to dismiss these people as being horrific. And then you suddenly realized that actually any good person...

And if she wanted to do her own thing, she should do. So they... They were actually good guys. And you suddenly realized... And it was a surprise, right? Because they had those views. And you want to dismiss these people as being horrific. And then you suddenly realized that actually any good person...

if they're fed a set of ideas and set of information that's wrong, can believe conspiracy theories that ultimately lead to horrific stuff. Right. Right?

if they're fed a set of ideas and set of information that's wrong, can believe conspiracy theories that ultimately lead to horrific stuff. Right. Right?

I don't, given the state of the current internet and information laws, basically.

I don't, given the state of the current internet and information laws, basically.

Well, you know, you're being fed so much stuff that polarizes you. Yeah. You know, if you look at the craziness that is going on in the world, everything has been accelerating since, you know, social media came along. Yeah. So until really, in my opinion, until you actually get laws that

Well, you know, you're being fed so much stuff that polarizes you. Yeah. You know, if you look at the craziness that is going on in the world, everything has been accelerating since, you know, social media came along. Yeah. So until really, in my opinion, until you actually get laws that

You know, get legislation that curbs the power of those social media companies and says, all right, actually, you can't spread lies like this that kill people.

You know, get legislation that curbs the power of those social media companies and says, all right, actually, you can't spread lies like this that kill people.

Or that completely undermine democracy.

Or that completely undermine democracy.

I mean, these are very big questions, huge, and they kind of vary from country to country. So, you know, in England and Australia and Germany, you know, you have laws about hate speech and about certain types of misinformation. In America, obviously, you have complete free speech, but it's not up to those... Except for yelling fire. Yes. Well, actually, you kind of can at the moment.

I mean, these are very big questions, huge, and they kind of vary from country to country. So, you know, in England and Australia and Germany, you know, you have laws about hate speech and about certain types of misinformation. In America, obviously, you have complete free speech, but it's not up to those... Except for yelling fire. Yes. Well, actually, you kind of can at the moment.

I mean, you know, the internet companies, because they're not regulated because of this thing called Section 230, they can put out... Which is a free speech thing, right? Section 230 isn't really about free speech. It basically says you can't sue them.

I mean, you know, the internet companies, because they're not regulated because of this thing called Section 230, they can put out... Which is a free speech thing, right? Section 230 isn't really about free speech. It basically says you can't sue them.

So once you can't sue a company, you know, they have no obligation to, you know, maintain the free speech of the United States in the same way that a restaurant can say, you know what, I'm going to throw you out of the restaurant for saying this or that or, you know. You know, having that KKK hood here.

So once you can't sue a company, you know, they have no obligation to, you know, maintain the free speech of the United States in the same way that a restaurant can say, you know what, I'm going to throw you out of the restaurant for saying this or that or, you know. You know, having that KKK hood here.

So I think the fact, you know, they're saying that they care about free speech, basically because it's fantastic for their business model. It means that they can have every single person in the world can be on Meta, can be on Instagram, can be on X, right? They don't care really about free speech.

So I think the fact, you know, they're saying that they care about free speech, basically because it's fantastic for their business model. It means that they can have every single person in the world can be on Meta, can be on Instagram, can be on X, right? They don't care really about free speech.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, obviously, it's horrific, but you go, you know, while I'm actually in the room, I'm editing the scene as well. Right. So in my head, I'm going, you know, once they've got the thing, I go, oh, that's great. And now one follow up question, bang, okay, now I'm going to move on to the next bit. You know, because there's obviously no direct to that. Yeah.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, obviously, it's horrific, but you go, you know, while I'm actually in the room, I'm editing the scene as well. Right. So in my head, I'm going, you know, once they've got the thing, I go, oh, that's great. And now one follow up question, bang, okay, now I'm going to move on to the next bit. You know, because there's obviously no direct to that. Yeah.

It is surprisingly... Think more about that.

It is surprisingly... Think more about that.

What do you mean? What do you mean, my figure? Stay on that topic. What do you mean?

What do you mean? What do you mean, my figure? Stay on that topic. What do you mean?

I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know.

I only did one course. I studied with Philippe Gaulier, the legendary clown teacher.

I only did one course. I studied with Philippe Gaulier, the legendary clown teacher.

At l'école Philippe Gaulier. At a clown school. That was it. I did it. But no, I didn't really train in acting, no.

At l'école Philippe Gaulier. At a clown school. That was it. I did it. But no, I didn't really train in acting, no.

How do you... Well, I think... Yeah, I think, you know, we did an experiment after, in 2016. That show, Who's America, came out of me and my collaborator, Ant Hines and Dan Zweimer. We basically said, you know what, let's just create some characters. I'd done a movie. It'd been a complete bomb. And I was like, let's take this opportunity to create some characters. And we decided to go...

How do you... Well, I think... Yeah, I think, you know, we did an experiment after, in 2016. That show, Who's America, came out of me and my collaborator, Ant Hines and Dan Zweimer. We basically said, you know what, let's just create some characters. I'd done a movie. It'd been a complete bomb. And I was like, let's take this opportunity to create some characters. And we decided to go...

Every week for the next 10 weeks, we're going to create a character, write it, create a fake prosthetic head for it, and at the end of the week, shoot with a real person, with a character. And I did that for 10 weeks, and there were a variety of crazy characters, some that made it to the show. Six we put in the show. And then I realized, basically...

Every week for the next 10 weeks, we're going to create a character, write it, create a fake prosthetic head for it, and at the end of the week, shoot with a real person, with a character. And I did that for 10 weeks, and there were a variety of crazy characters, some that made it to the show. Six we put in the show. And then I realized, basically...

What I was able to do is once I've got the way the character speaks, and once I work out what it looks like, and once I work out what the clothes are, and I've got a couple of phrases, I can just stick in it. So that was... Because that was a couple of weeks in, I was like, oh, this is what I can do is I can... You know, they call it inhabiting a character, but I actually kind of...

What I was able to do is once I've got the way the character speaks, and once I work out what it looks like, and once I work out what the clothes are, and I've got a couple of phrases, I can just stick in it. So that was... Because that was a couple of weeks in, I was like, oh, this is what I can do is I can... You know, they call it inhabiting a character, but I actually kind of...

You know, if I've got 30 seconds or whatever, then I can go in it. There must be something wrong with my brain.

You know, if I've got 30 seconds or whatever, then I can go in it. There must be something wrong with my brain.

Yeah, what making it real. I mean, it's funny, sometimes I get... You know, I'll have a director say, you know, I want you to do, you know, a scripted movie. And they'll go, this time you're going to be playing a real person.

Yeah, what making it real. I mean, it's funny, sometimes I get... You know, I'll have a director say, you know, I want you to do, you know, a scripted movie. And they'll go, this time you're going to be playing a real person.

And I go, hold on, the other people I play are real people, which is why I'm with Dick Cheney for three hours. And he doesn't doubt once that he's with a real person. What about Giuliani?

And I go, hold on, the other people I play are real people, which is why I'm with Dick Cheney for three hours. And he doesn't doubt once that he's with a real person. What about Giuliani?

What can you say? Can you say anything? Can you talk about Giuliani? Yes, yeah, I can, I think, talk about Giuliani. That was amazing. I mean, essentially, you know, that movie... So we were like, why do we bring Borat back? And actually, I've got to thank Kimmel. where Kim said, we want you on. It was like the midterms.

What can you say? Can you say anything? Can you talk about Giuliani? Yes, yeah, I can, I think, talk about Giuliani. That was amazing. I mean, essentially, you know, that movie... So we were like, why do we bring Borat back? And actually, I've got to thank Kimmel. where Kim said, we want you on. It was like the midterms.

And he wanted me to do some sketch where basically I was a kind of Ashton Kutcher type who had been manipulating Kanye West into turning him into a character that was so ridiculous that he would hang out with Donald Trump. And basically I said, I'll do it so long as Kanye will do it. This was years ago. This was 2008. 18, right? And so I called up Kanye and said, will you do this thing?

And he wanted me to do some sketch where basically I was a kind of Ashton Kutcher type who had been manipulating Kanye West into turning him into a character that was so ridiculous that he would hang out with Donald Trump. And basically I said, I'll do it so long as Kanye will do it. This was years ago. This was 2008. 18, right? And so I called up Kanye and said, will you do this thing?

And it would be, you know, he'd already met up with Trump and I said, will you do this sketch where it says, you know, we're planning out, you know, we're going to create this ridiculous character and it's going to end up with you in Trump Tower and it's going to be as if you were playing along. And he said, I love the idea, but, you know, I need the president to agree. And I was like, Trump?

And it would be, you know, he'd already met up with Trump and I said, will you do this sketch where it says, you know, we're planning out, you know, we're going to create this ridiculous character and it's going to end up with you in Trump Tower and it's going to be as if you were playing along. And he said, I love the idea, but, you know, I need the president to agree. And I was like, Trump?

I go, don't, no, no, don't ask him. So, I couldn't do, he goes, no, I love him and I want you to, I need to ask him. I go, please do not tell him we're doing this sketch at all. So, I couldn't do that sketch. And then basically, I decided to do Borat. Actually, I spoke to Chris Rock. Is that a name drop? I think so. Sure.

I go, don't, no, no, don't ask him. So, I couldn't do, he goes, no, I love him and I want you to, I need to ask him. I go, please do not tell him we're doing this sketch at all. So, I couldn't do that sketch. And then basically, I decided to do Borat. Actually, I spoke to Chris Rock. Is that a name drop? I think so. Sure.

It's a kind of name drop. Yeah. Here it is. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a name drop. So, I spoke to Chris Rock, world famous comedian and actor. And he said, why don't you... You know, I was in a rush. Basically, I was going to go on air two days' time. He said, just do Borat going door-to-door. We did Borat door-to-door, got the moustache out of storage.

It's a kind of name drop. Yeah. Here it is. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a name drop. So, I spoke to Chris Rock, world famous comedian and actor. And he said, why don't you... You know, I was in a rush. Basically, I was going to go on air two days' time. He said, just do Borat going door-to-door. We did Borat door-to-door, got the moustache out of storage.

And then I realised that basically Borat was just an extreme form of Trump. They had almost identical views... Wal-Mart was kind of 30 to 40% more extreme with everything. I was like, oh, great, we can bring him back for Trump. And then I was like, how do I infiltrate, you know, Trump's world? I go, okay, if he has a daughter who's 15, wouldn't it be great if, you know, Trump had sex with her?

And then I realised that basically Borat was just an extreme form of Trump. They had almost identical views... Wal-Mart was kind of 30 to 40% more extreme with everything. I was like, oh, great, we can bring him back for Trump. And then I was like, how do I infiltrate, you know, Trump's world? I go, okay, if he has a daughter who's 15, wouldn't it be great if, you know, Trump had sex with her?

And so, you know, originally I was trying to work out how to get this, you know, actress in with Trump. We got her close to him for a while, but it was, you know, we spoke to a lot of ex-secret service guys, and the idea was like, I would kind of jump out of the wall somewhere. We had like all these plans where, you know, Trump would be in a room, I would be inside the wall.

And so, you know, originally I was trying to work out how to get this, you know, actress in with Trump. We got her close to him for a while, but it was, you know, we spoke to a lot of ex-secret service guys, and the idea was like, I would kind of jump out of the wall somewhere. We had like all these plans where, you know, Trump would be in a room, I would be inside the wall.

We would, you know, hollow out a wall, then build it up around me. And then I burst out when he was with her. And an ex-top Secret Service guy looked after the president. And we go, what do you think of this plan? I'm going to be in there. I'll be in there for like five hours. He said, the issue is that the Secret Service have a machine that sees if there's anyone else, anyone in the walls. No.

We would, you know, hollow out a wall, then build it up around me. And then I burst out when he was with her. And an ex-top Secret Service guy looked after the president. And we go, what do you think of this plan? I'm going to be in there. I'll be in there for like five hours. He said, the issue is that the Secret Service have a machine that sees if there's anyone else, anyone in the walls. No.

And I go, all right. So I go, what's worse comes worse. They find that I'm there. And what, they pull me out? He goes, no, they shoot you dead. I go, why? He goes, because why else would you be in a, why would there be a living person inside a wall unless they were trusting you?

And I go, all right. So I go, what's worse comes worse. They find that I'm there. And what, they pull me out? He goes, no, they shoot you dead. I go, why? He goes, because why else would you be in a, why would there be a living person inside a wall unless they were trusting you?

So we basically gave up on Trump. Also, you know, We thought at the time that, you know, he was the most protected person in the world. I mean, this was prior to those last unfortunate incidents. But Rudy... But then we found out Rudy was a possibility. A little bit of a softer target. Yeah, but we knew that he was going to be crucial. Yeah. And we kind of researched him.

So we basically gave up on Trump. Also, you know, We thought at the time that, you know, he was the most protected person in the world. I mean, this was prior to those last unfortunate incidents. But Rudy... But then we found out Rudy was a possibility. A little bit of a softer target. Yeah, but we knew that he was going to be crucial. Yeah. And we kind of researched him.

We found out what he drank, when he started drinking. Was the answer anything? I'm just asking. There was a particular type of alcohol. But then we heard that he would sweep the room. He had a very senior head of security who would come in and sweep the room. And so we built a kind of fake... inside the wardrobe.

We found out what he drank, when he started drinking. Was the answer anything? I'm just asking. There was a particular type of alcohol. But then we heard that he would sweep the room. He had a very senior head of security who would come in and sweep the room. And so we built a kind of fake... inside the wardrobe.

So a fake back to, there was a wardrobe that if somebody opened it, it would have a fake back to him. Behind that was me. And so the idea was, you know, I'd just stand in there for, you know, an hour and a half and the necessary bit, jump out, if he was close to kissing, you know, the girl playing my daughter. And anyway, basically, we had a crew member who accidentally put me in the wrong room.

So a fake back to, there was a wardrobe that if somebody opened it, it would have a fake back to him. Behind that was me. And so the idea was, you know, I'd just stand in there for, you know, an hour and a half and the necessary bit, jump out, if he was close to kissing, you know, the girl playing my daughter. And anyway, basically, we had a crew member who accidentally put me in the wrong room.

And I said, you know, so I would have to be in position for, you know, for this to happen. Otherwise, you know, there's no way to get into the room because his head of security would come into the room, sweep the room, sweep every room, and then he would sit outside so no one could come in with Rudy and her. And I was in the wrong room.

And I said, you know, so I would have to be in position for, you know, for this to happen. Otherwise, you know, there's no way to get into the room because his head of security would come into the room, sweep the room, sweep every room, and then he would sit outside so no one could come in with Rudy and her. And I was in the wrong room.

And I said, wait a minute, how long till Rudy, you know, goes to the room? And he said, oh, he's on his way there now. And I was like, now? And basically I ran to the room and I literally saw Rudy's leg come around the corner. I ducked into the room, went into the wardrobe, went behind the fake wall, closed it.

And I said, wait a minute, how long till Rudy, you know, goes to the room? And he said, oh, he's on his way there now. And I was like, now? And basically I ran to the room and I literally saw Rudy's leg come around the corner. I ducked into the room, went into the wardrobe, went behind the fake wall, closed it.

And then I heard the door open off his security, you know, sweep the room that I was in and then come out. So he swept through the room. We did the scene, you know, eventually. Oh, by the way, so I'm in there for an hour and a half. And, you know, the only way I can communicate with the director was through a cell phone. And we thought of everything.

And then I heard the door open off his security, you know, sweep the room that I was in and then come out. So he swept through the room. We did the scene, you know, eventually. Oh, by the way, so I'm in there for an hour and a half. And, you know, the only way I can communicate with the director was through a cell phone. And we thought of everything.

I pick up the cell phone, I'm in the pitch black, and there's 3%. You know, an hour and a half. I was like, we did everything. We've got hidden cameras. But somebody had not charged the cell phone. So at some point, I had to kind of climb out of it and make eye contact with the brilliant actor Maria, who's playing my daughter. And she's like, really just on the bed.

I pick up the cell phone, I'm in the pitch black, and there's 3%. You know, an hour and a half. I was like, we did everything. We've got hidden cameras. But somebody had not charged the cell phone. So at some point, I had to kind of climb out of it and make eye contact with the brilliant actor Maria, who's playing my daughter. And she's like, really just on the bed.

And she's like coming out, looking at me, going, what do I do? And... And eventually, I confronted Rudy. He freaks out, goes out the room, and his head of security pushes me into the room. You know, I'm playing Borat, and Borat, you know, is so naive. You know, if he sees a chair, he'll say, what is this machine with four legs? You know?

And she's like coming out, looking at me, going, what do I do? And... And eventually, I confronted Rudy. He freaks out, goes out the room, and his head of security pushes me into the room. You know, I'm playing Borat, and Borat, you know, is so naive. You know, if he sees a chair, he'll say, what is this machine with four legs? You know?

And suddenly the head of security pushed me back into the room going, you're going nowhere. Because I had an escape route. So my security guy was going to take me down the escape route, but the head of security pushes me into the room and goes, you're going nowhere, you're staying right here. And I said, this is a false imprisonment.

And suddenly the head of security pushed me back into the room going, you're going nowhere. Because I had an escape route. So my security guy was going to take me down the escape route, but the head of security pushes me into the room and goes, you're going nowhere, you're staying right here. And I said, this is a false imprisonment.

You are standing on my property and you will leave now and unhand me now. And basically he realized that and read the law. Ran down, ran down the fire escape, got into a car, got to the crew hotel, and then essentially my lawyer says, he found out what we did, and he said, okay, you've got to get out the state now. I go, that's ridiculous. Why?

You are standing on my property and you will leave now and unhand me now. And basically he realized that and read the law. Ran down, ran down the fire escape, got into a car, got to the crew hotel, and then essentially my lawyer says, he found out what we did, and he said, okay, you've got to get out the state now. I go, that's ridiculous. Why?

They go, Rudy had called something, and I'd met the manager of the hotel a year onwards in D.C., And he said Rudy had done something, I don't know what he'd called in, but he said every single type of law enforcement descended on the hotel, shut down the hotel, they confiscated all the equipment, all the crew was stuck in the hotel rooms. And then my security, I had a policeman that I'd hired

They go, Rudy had called something, and I'd met the manager of the hotel a year onwards in D.C., And he said Rudy had done something, I don't know what he'd called in, but he said every single type of law enforcement descended on the hotel, shut down the hotel, they confiscated all the equipment, all the crew was stuck in the hotel rooms. And then my security, I had a policeman that I'd hired

He realized that I'd set up Rudy Giuliani. He immediately told Rudy's security where I lived, where I was staying. Jesus Christ. And so my lawyer was like, get the hell out of New York City now. I was like, that seems a little bit over the top. I called up this other security guy I know. I know a lot of security guys. Who runs these kind of detectives, you know, New York and stuff like that.

He realized that I'd set up Rudy Giuliani. He immediately told Rudy's security where I lived, where I was staying. Jesus Christ. And so my lawyer was like, get the hell out of New York City now. I was like, that seems a little bit over the top. I called up this other security guy I know. I know a lot of security guys. Who runs these kind of detectives, you know, New York and stuff like that.

And I said, listen, I've been told I have to leave New York State immediately. you know, in the next 20 minutes, because I interviewed someone, and I go, he goes, what did you do? And I go, you know, war likes, you know, lingerie, and da-da-da, politician. I go, he goes, who was it? I go, you know, it was Giuliani. He goes, get the hell out of the hotel now.

And I said, listen, I've been told I have to leave New York State immediately. you know, in the next 20 minutes, because I interviewed someone, and I go, he goes, what did you do? And I go, you know, war likes, you know, lingerie, and da-da-da, politician. I go, he goes, who was it? I go, you know, it was Giuliani. He goes, get the hell out of the hotel now.

So I start texting everyone who I knew outside of New York, go, hi, how's it going? Haven't seen you for a few years. This was the middle of the pandemic. You know, this is when Manhattan was completely empty. You'd go up Fifth Avenue. There was not a car or a person. I go, how's it going? Any chance I could stay soon? When? 15 minutes.

So I start texting everyone who I knew outside of New York, go, hi, how's it going? Haven't seen you for a few years. This was the middle of the pandemic. You know, this is when Manhattan was completely empty. You'd go up Fifth Avenue. There was not a car or a person. I go, how's it going? Any chance I could stay soon? When? 15 minutes.

And people are like, you know, people are like freaked out, not responding. Eventually, one of them says yes. And basically, I drive to Connecticut. And it was fantastic.

And people are like, you know, people are like freaked out, not responding. Eventually, one of them says yes. And basically, I drive to Connecticut. And it was fantastic.

We got all the footage. And then, yeah, it was interesting. It was interesting.

We got all the footage. And then, yeah, it was interesting. It was interesting.

I mean, I am... I remember the first film I did was Talladega Nights. Yeah. And it was the first trailer I'd been in. Ricky Bubby. And I went in, Ricky Bubby, and... And basically, I remember seeing that there was a bed in the trailer. And I'd never had a trailer beforehand because we'd always been in the back of a car. I was like, why is there a bed? Somebody's accidentally put a bed in my room.

I mean, I am... I remember the first film I did was Talladega Nights. Yeah. And it was the first trailer I'd been in. Ricky Bubby. And I went in, Ricky Bubby, and... And basically, I remember seeing that there was a bed in the trailer. And I'd never had a trailer beforehand because we'd always been in the back of a car. I was like, why is there a bed? Somebody's accidentally put a bed in my room.

They go, no, that's... I go, what am I meant to do with it? Sleep, you know. And so I thought, wow, this is actually an incredible gig. But, you know, when it's the other staff... It is, I mean, it's much less stressful. Yeah. Although, you know, I just did this show with Alfonso Cuaron.

They go, no, that's... I go, what am I meant to do with it? Sleep, you know. And so I thought, wow, this is actually an incredible gig. But, you know, when it's the other staff... It is, I mean, it's much less stressful. Yeah. Although, you know, I just did this show with Alfonso Cuaron.

Well, we had like a 15-minute scene, yeah, with me and Cate Blanchett. They wanted to do it in one take.

Well, we had like a 15-minute scene, yeah, with me and Cate Blanchett. They wanted to do it in one take.

I mean, if it's good and you're working with an incredible director, then, and you're an incredible director, my friend.

I mean, if it's good and you're working with an incredible director, then, and you're an incredible director, my friend.

No, you are. Can I just say, let's do the remainder of this about Jason. But yeah, then it is great.

No, you are. Can I just say, let's do the remainder of this about Jason. But yeah, then it is great.

No, because you're just doing the act. You know, everything else is, how are we going to get into the room? What's the escape route? Who's that person? That person's looking suspicious. This person doesn't quite believe me. My fake ear is falling off my head, you know. And then you're, you know, number eight... in the thing is I'm gonna act this scene.

No, because you're just doing the act. You know, everything else is, how are we going to get into the room? What's the escape route? Who's that person? That person's looking suspicious. This person doesn't quite believe me. My fake ear is falling off my head, you know. And then you're, you know, number eight... in the thing is I'm gonna act this scene.

Or are you done with that? I think they are... Yeah, I mean, the last one became so extreme. And... It was, you know, after that gun rally thing that I was talking about, I was essentially on the run. I had a militia kind of following me, and I was going from safe house to safe house for about four days. That's the movie. Yeah, exactly.

Or are you done with that? I think they are... Yeah, I mean, the last one became so extreme. And... It was, you know, after that gun rally thing that I was talking about, I was essentially on the run. I had a militia kind of following me, and I was going from safe house to safe house for about four days. That's the movie. Yeah, exactly.

By the way, I mean, it's, that was, yeah, it kind of is the movie because, you know, you finish that, that song with that militia, you go, oh, that went really well. And then, you know, the escape itself is tough because we're in an ambulance. We're surrounded by 30 guys trying to pull me out of the ambulance. They pull open the door, you know, I'm struggling.

By the way, I mean, it's, that was, yeah, it kind of is the movie because, you know, you finish that, that song with that militia, you go, oh, that went really well. And then, you know, the escape itself is tough because we're in an ambulance. We're surrounded by 30 guys trying to pull me out of the ambulance. They pull open the door, you know, I'm struggling.

Yeah, I mean, no one's really... You know, that's the behind-the-scenes stuff. At some point, there needs to be a behind-the-scenes movie. We shot... We did have... We've got a bunch of footage of the last 25 years, but... Yeah, that... I think it became so crazy in the last one that you realize...

Yeah, I mean, no one's really... You know, that's the behind-the-scenes stuff. At some point, there needs to be a behind-the-scenes movie. We shot... We did have... We've got a bunch of footage of the last 25 years, but... Yeah, that... I think it became so crazy in the last one that you realize...

You've got to be, there's a certain amount of skill and preparation, but also you've got to be lucky. And at some point, your luck runs out.

You've got to be, there's a certain amount of skill and preparation, but also you've got to be lucky. And at some point, your luck runs out.

Yes. Well, I think just the danger element meant that... I just didn't really want to do it again. You know, I felt I had to do it for that election. I had to do it. I felt it was like, you know, I was terrified about... Well, let's not come off the gas just yet, okay? Yes.

Yes. Well, I think just the danger element meant that... I just didn't really want to do it again. You know, I felt I had to do it for that election. I had to do it. I felt it was like, you know, I was terrified about... Well, let's not come off the gas just yet, okay? Yes.

You're out.

You're out.

I watched it for the first time in Venice.

I watched it for the first time in Venice.

And I mean, no one could believe that I hadn't watched it until then. And the embarrassing thing was I was laughing at the jokes that I'm making out. There's not many, but it's quite embarrassing. You're at a premiere watching yourself and you're one of the only people laughing at it. And then I was like really moved by one of my performances. I was like near tit.

And I mean, no one could believe that I hadn't watched it until then. And the embarrassing thing was I was laughing at the jokes that I'm making out. There's not many, but it's quite embarrassing. You're at a premiere watching yourself and you're one of the only people laughing at it. And then I was like really moved by one of my performances. I was like near tit.

And I realized I'm just a complete narcissist, just looking, just really moved by my own performance.

And I realized I'm just a complete narcissist, just looking, just really moved by my own performance.

I never knew there was a connection between actors in movies and narcissism. No, I had no idea.

I never knew there was a connection between actors in movies and narcissism. No, I had no idea.

October 11th. Yeah, it came out. It came out October 11th.

October 11th. Yeah, it came out. It came out October 11th.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And Sean, it'd be lovely to meet you in the flesh.

And Sean, it'd be lovely to meet you in the flesh.

If you don't mind malicious coming to your door. No, are you kidding? What do they look like?

If you don't mind malicious coming to your door. No, are you kidding? What do they look like?

I'm awful at it. The honest truth is I'm very bad at it. It's terrible to me. Even though I'll see you socially. Socially, it's a pleasure, but the slight pressure with the... No pressure. No, this is great.

I'm awful at it. The honest truth is I'm very bad at it. It's terrible to me. Even though I'll see you socially. Socially, it's a pleasure, but the slight pressure with the... No pressure. No, this is great.

By the way, very muscly. I can see your... I don't know if you're doing this intentionally, but I've seen glutes. Oh, no, he's got everything. No, you've been working out. You're looking very muscly. Put your arms down. Are you doing this for a reason?

By the way, very muscly. I can see your... I don't know if you're doing this intentionally, but I've seen glutes. Oh, no, he's got everything. No, you've been working out. You're looking very muscly. Put your arms down. Are you doing this for a reason?

Wow. Early shorts.

Wow. Early shorts.

Wow, you really actually do look incredible.

Wow, you really actually do look incredible.

I love you. No, seriously, I love you both. Sean, you seem very lovely.

I love you. No, seriously, I love you both. Sean, you seem very lovely.

Miss you, Sasha. Always a pleasure. These two, I do love. I do love. We're trash compared to him.

Miss you, Sasha. Always a pleasure. These two, I do love. I do love. We're trash compared to him.

I feel affectionate. I feel an instant warmth. Oh, he's a little love thing. Yeah, yeah. Very charming and lovely persona.

I feel affectionate. I feel an instant warmth. Oh, he's a little love thing. Yeah, yeah. Very charming and lovely persona.

You're not going to sue me for saying that, are you? Okay. K. Monty Strong on our podcast. Loved it.

You're not going to sue me for saying that, are you? Okay. K. Monty Strong on our podcast. Loved it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Honestly, I would say I thought it was excellent.

Honestly, I would say I thought it was excellent.

I personally thought it was excellent. By the way, I have seen stuff that I've done. I was like, that is bad. I laughed and I cried at myself.

I personally thought it was excellent. By the way, I have seen stuff that I've done. I was like, that is bad. I laughed and I cried at myself.

All of them. Cate Blanchett. Cate Blanchett. A guaranteed Emmy tour de force. Cate Blanchett. End of quote. Kevin Kline. I am in this.

All of them. Cate Blanchett. Cate Blanchett. A guaranteed Emmy tour de force. Cate Blanchett. End of quote. Kevin Kline. I am in this.

Kevin Kline's in it. He's actually fantastic in it.

Kevin Kline's in it. He's actually fantastic in it.

All right. Enjoy the rest of your night. All right. Thank you. See you soon. Love to everyone. Okay, toodaloo. Thank you. Bye.

All right. Enjoy the rest of your night. All right. Thank you. See you soon. Love to everyone. Okay, toodaloo. Thank you. Bye.

Bye, bye.

Bye, bye.

Come, come. Please. It's an honor. It's an honor to be 114th? Yes. You're deep. You should have been on earlier. Yeah.

Come, come. Please. It's an honor. It's an honor to be 114th? Yes. You're deep. You should have been on earlier. Yeah.

Sasha.

Sasha.

Have we never met? That seems bizarre. I'm sorry. Lovely to meet you. Lovely to meet you, too.

Have we never met? That seems bizarre. I'm sorry. Lovely to meet you. Lovely to meet you, too.

I'm in Marea in French Polynesia where I live now.

I'm in Marea in French Polynesia where I live now.

Yeah, no, it's a bit.

Yeah, no, it's a bit.

You know what? I actually considered, I looked into it very thoroughly, jokes aside.

You know what? I actually considered, I looked into it very thoroughly, jokes aside.

During the pandemic, yeah, during the pandemic, we knew we were going to move, but we were looking somewhere in the southern hemisphere.

During the pandemic, yeah, during the pandemic, we knew we were going to move, but we were looking somewhere in the southern hemisphere.

I think at that point, it was somewhere in the southern hemisphere, and so we had missed the virus. We were advised by someone at Johns Hopkins, who I happen to know. And so we looked into French Polynesia. I looked carefully into Tahiti. It was interesting. Yeah. There's a bilingual school.

I think at that point, it was somewhere in the southern hemisphere, and so we had missed the virus. We were advised by someone at Johns Hopkins, who I happen to know. And so we looked into French Polynesia. I looked carefully into Tahiti. It was interesting. Yeah. There's a bilingual school.

You know, there's beaches.

You know, there's beaches.

I have been to Marea. And I've been to, I've not been to the Brando. And I have been to Bora Bora. Where's the Brando? And I can tell you everywhere else that I've visited as well.

I have been to Marea. And I've been to, I've not been to the Brando. And I have been to Bora Bora. Where's the Brando? And I can tell you everywhere else that I've visited as well.

No, no, no. Quite right. Let's discuss the best hotels.

No, no, no. Quite right. Let's discuss the best hotels.

Yes. By the way, I am happy to discuss French Polynesia. At length. Till the end, yes. Actually, I was in a shark attack there once. You were? A feeding frenzy. You were in one? In Morea.

Yes. By the way, I am happy to discuss French Polynesia. At length. Till the end, yes. Actually, I was in a shark attack there once. You were? A feeding frenzy. You were in one? In Morea.

In those days, I think it's illegal now, they used to do something called shark feeding, where I was doing my paddy license and then...

In those days, I think it's illegal now, they used to do something called shark feeding, where I was doing my paddy license and then...

Exactly.

Exactly.

And then, yeah, the guy I was with, some French instructor, basically said, we're going to feed some sharks. And then he puts on a kind of chain mail hand thing. Obviously, we're underwater. And he just said, be near me. And it was just me and him. And he basically breaks open a sardine, I remember it. And then I remember seeing the droplets of blood.

And then, yeah, the guy I was with, some French instructor, basically said, we're going to feed some sharks. And then he puts on a kind of chain mail hand thing. Obviously, we're underwater. And he just said, be near me. And it was just me and him. And he basically breaks open a sardine, I remember it. And then I remember seeing the droplets of blood.

And then within literally two minutes, there were 12 sharks around. No way. And then he pulls out this bag, this tuna head. And he's got, you know, a chainmail hand on, chainmail kind of glove on. And they start, you know, eating the thing. And it's really interesting. And I'm there opposite. Then they get carried away.

And then within literally two minutes, there were 12 sharks around. No way. And then he pulls out this bag, this tuna head. And he's got, you know, a chainmail hand on, chainmail kind of glove on. And they start, you know, eating the thing. And it's really interesting. And I'm there opposite. Then they get carried away.

And there's a feeding frenzy. And you can't see anything.

And there's a feeding frenzy. And you can't see anything.

He's not looking at me. His glove gets knocked off and his regulator gets knocked out of his mouth. And then he leaves.

He's not looking at me. His glove gets knocked off and his regulator gets knocked out of his mouth. And then he leaves.

He goes up and leaves me alone with the 12 shocks. And I can't see a thing.

He goes up and leaves me alone with the 12 shocks. And I can't see a thing.

No, nothing. It was literally nothing.

No, nothing. It was literally nothing.

That did not happen when the sharks knocked the regulator out of his mouth and knocked the gloves off and he swam away.

That did not happen when the sharks knocked the regulator out of his mouth and knocked the gloves off and he swam away.

I was, and I basically started hyperventilating. I mean, this was my second time diving in my life. Yeah, but I mean like... And then actually the guy, he put his regulator back on.

I was, and I basically started hyperventilating. I mean, this was my second time diving in my life. Yeah, but I mean like... And then actually the guy, he put his regulator back on.

put the glove back because he'd left me alone. Went back down and then the first shot went to attack him and he punched it in the nose. I mean, this is not good for animal rights lovers out there. No, but that's what you're supposed to do.

put the glove back because he'd left me alone. Went back down and then the first shot went to attack him and he punched it in the nose. I mean, this is not good for animal rights lovers out there. No, but that's what you're supposed to do.

I don't think so. I think they were just in a friendship. He head-butted the big shark. Did they interview the shark after?

I don't think so. I think they were just in a friendship. He head-butted the big shark. Did they interview the shark after?

He headbutted one of the sharks, the lemon shark, which I think was kind of bad. Those are big. 12 feet long.

He headbutted one of the sharks, the lemon shark, which I think was kind of bad. Those are big. 12 feet long.

He headbutted that shark.

He headbutted that shark.

Afterwards, I did go up to him and I said, has anyone... In the end, I basically came over to check my oxygen and I completely run out of oxygen. And then we did some emergency procedure and... where you take his regulator.

Afterwards, I did go up to him and I said, has anyone... In the end, I basically came over to check my oxygen and I completely run out of oxygen. And then we did some emergency procedure and... where you take his regulator.

This is how we regulate. This is a very long ruse. We're both in this. We go down below.

This is how we regulate. This is a very long ruse. We're both in this. We go down below.

I did say to him, I said, has anyone ever got hurt on any of your dives? And he said, two people have died.

I did say to him, I said, has anyone ever got hurt on any of your dives? And he said, two people have died.

For real. But it was painless. Yeah, he was a cave diver. Those guys are completely crazy. And, you know, he basically missed the fun and the thrill of cave diving.

For real. But it was painless. Yeah, he was a cave diver. Those guys are completely crazy. And, you know, he basically missed the fun and the thrill of cave diving.

Not really. No, no, no, no. Have you ever skydived? Would you? I have not. I would not. Have you? Have you?

Not really. No, no, no, no. Have you ever skydived? Would you? I have not. I would not. Have you? Have you?

It's part of the last name, yeah.

It's part of the last name, yeah.

Firstly, thank you very much for that description. It was lovely. I could spend all day doing that. But please don't. I think it was the first time... Actually, the second time I did Borat. So basically, Borat was created... I was doing like a... a satellite TV show called F2F, where I was the host of it. It was a discussion show for teenage kids. We'd talk about everything.

Firstly, thank you very much for that description. It was lovely. I could spend all day doing that. But please don't. I think it was the first time... Actually, the second time I did Borat. So basically, Borat was created... I was doing like a... a satellite TV show called F2F, where I was the host of it. It was a discussion show for teenage kids. We'd talk about everything.

And you'd talk about teen topics. And, you know, I wanted to be a comedian. And so I would go and pre-record characters that I could throw to. And basically, I went out once and...

And you'd talk about teen topics. And, you know, I wanted to be a comedian. And so I would go and pre-record characters that I could throw to. And basically, I went out once and...

I had a kind of skateboarding character that was an early form of Ali G. And then I basically saw some real skateboarders, and the guy I was with, this sort of old director from E-Link Studios, who had lost all his money and was working on this really shitty satellite TV show, I said, look, those guys look like me. I go, do you think I should talk to them? And he said, 100%.

I had a kind of skateboarding character that was an early form of Ali G. And then I basically saw some real skateboarders, and the guy I was with, this sort of old director from E-Link Studios, who had lost all his money and was working on this really shitty satellite TV show, I said, look, those guys look like me. I go, do you think I should talk to them? And he said, 100%.

So I go over to these guys, And I'm basically on my skateboard and I'm playing this early Ali G character. And they thought I was real.

And after about three minutes, I said, guys, you know, I'm not... You know, I'm not real. This is just, you know, I'm playing along. They were completely freaked out. Right. And then a tourist bus came. I jumped on the tourist bus. I commandeered it. I started rapping. Got off the bus. Went into a bus. Sasha, what year was this maybe? This was, I think, 1995 or 4. Okay.

Anyway, I basically go into a pub. I start breakdancing. They call the police. I go into some big business. I claim that my dad's upstairs and he's the CEO. They call security. We run back to this live TV show. I run. They put on my normal clothes. And this guy, this legendary guy, who's an editor at Ealing Studios, is editing while I'm on air. This is... This is the days of pneumatics.

This is, he's like cutting, you know, everything's losing full frame. And he's adding music. And this guy was a kind of legendary guy. Wow. And I'm cutting to this stuff and it's, you know, me with real people. So it was the first time that it was a comic character with real people.

You're right. I'm not really answering your question at all. This was like the first time I ever did... you know, characters in the real world.

Well, I think in a way, Ali G was kind of a undermining of the establishment. It was essentially saying, okay, these people that run society... they are completely out of touch with society so much that they will believe that this guy is real, despite him asking the most absurd questions ever.

You're not going to criticize Hitler again, are you?

Stop it.

I was furious. I was weeping. It's one of the weirdest positions. I was weeping at the Vanity Fair party.

No, he didn't. No, he had absolutely no idea. Because he took me off camera after we'd finished the interview, back to the other room. And so, you know, I was still in character. He completely believed who I was. And that thing showed me like a painting... of a naked woman. Of his wife. Yes, is that possible? It's of his wife.

Yeah, and he goes, that is my wife. Yeah. Which you wouldn't do if you thought, and I was like, yo, man, yo, she is, man, I was boned out, yo.

There we go. You've verified the story. That is fact-checking. We have just fact-checked. There you go. We've established me as a reliable witness.

Yeah, it's my naked wife. My wife. That's James Lipton. She was beautiful, by the way. She was beautiful. I'll bet. Classically, if we use those kind of ways to categorize women. Sure. What does that even mean?

Sorry, sorry.

Interrupted. I thought I was waiting for that sliver. You threw me a line. A little early.

And then there was an awp. Then there was an awp. With the last Borat movie, there was quite a lot of that stuff. And actually, I mean, we did, there was a scene at a gun rally, which got quite hairy.

Yes, it was. I mean, the people with semi-automatics and automatics in the audience, and it was a militia, unfortunately, that had organized it that then didn't take it very well. And I was singing a song called The Wuhan Flu. That's right. I mean, where does the fearlessness come from, though? Well, I'll tell you the truth.

With that scene, because we knew that there were going to be, you know, basically it was a gun rally. It was in the middle of COVID. We were the only movie shooting. And so, you know, my security said, listen, you need to have a bulletproof vest on. And so I put on the bulletproof vest and I said, they go, that's fine for pistols.

And they said, I go, what happens if somebody shoots the, you know, semi-automatic? And, you know, it's not just one person. So they built, so I was singing on stage. So they built an amplifier that was pretty much, So they basically said, you know, if people stop really shooting with the semi-automatics, go behind the amplifier and you'll be safe. Jesus! It's unbelievable.

And so the thing is, you know, you're in the scene, I'm on stage, And, you know, you have this kind of conflict between, you know, I'm terrified. And then you also have, I need to get the scene. So you want to, so I was doing, you know, the same verse again, because I felt I hadn't got a good take of it.

People were getting more and more, you know, they realized at some point that it was me on stage. There was somebody actually undercover from Black Lives Matter. had infiltrated this gun rally. Yeah. And basically they recognized me and word spread that it was me. And then people started trying to storm the stage.

Yeah.

Yeah, he's dead, but we gave him such a beautiful funeral.

Yeah, he went away so well. He had such a beautiful and reasonable funeral.

Yes, I mean, on the last movie as well, there were these two guys I spent three days in a house with called Jim and Jerry. And they were... Wait, this is Bruno, right? No, this was Borat 2. Oh, right, right, right, right. You know, they believe that Hillary Clinton drank the blood of children and, you know, COVID was a conspiracy and... and that Hillary had killed kids.

But they were actually... They were nice people. They were good people. They were just... And so you suddenly realise they're... And they're actually feminists because, well, when I was, you know, when I was being... When Porto was being a misogynist about his daughter, they were like, they took it upon themselves to teach me that it was important to be respectful to your daughter.

And if she wanted to do her own thing, she should do. So they... They were actually good guys. And you suddenly realized... And it was a surprise, right? Because they had those views. And you want to dismiss these people as being horrific. And then you suddenly realized that actually any good person...

if they're fed a set of ideas and set of information that's wrong, can believe conspiracy theories that ultimately lead to horrific stuff. Right. Right?

I don't, given the state of the current internet and information laws, basically.

Well, you know, you're being fed so much stuff that polarizes you. Yeah. You know, if you look at the craziness that is going on in the world, everything has been accelerating since, you know, social media came along. Yeah. So until really, in my opinion, until you actually get laws that

You know, get legislation that curbs the power of those social media companies and says, all right, actually, you can't spread lies like this that kill people.

Or that completely undermine democracy.

I mean, these are very big questions, huge, and they kind of vary from country to country. So, you know, in England and Australia and Germany, you know, you have laws about hate speech and about certain types of misinformation. In America, obviously, you have complete free speech, but it's not up to those... Except for yelling fire. Yes. Well, actually, you kind of can at the moment.

I mean, you know, the internet companies, because they're not regulated because of this thing called Section 230, they can put out... Which is a free speech thing, right? Section 230 isn't really about free speech. It basically says you can't sue them.

So once you can't sue a company, you know, they have no obligation to, you know, maintain the free speech of the United States in the same way that a restaurant can say, you know what, I'm going to throw you out of the restaurant for saying this or that or, you know. You know, having that KKK hood here.

So I think the fact, you know, they're saying that they care about free speech, basically because it's fantastic for their business model. It means that they can have every single person in the world can be on Meta, can be on Instagram, can be on X, right? They don't care really about free speech.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, obviously, it's horrific, but you go, you know, while I'm actually in the room, I'm editing the scene as well. Right. So in my head, I'm going, you know, once they've got the thing, I go, oh, that's great. And now one follow up question, bang, okay, now I'm going to move on to the next bit. You know, because there's obviously no direct to that. Yeah.

It is surprisingly... Think more about that.

What do you mean? What do you mean, my figure? Stay on that topic. What do you mean?

I don't know. I don't know.

I only did one course. I studied with Philippe Gaulier, the legendary clown teacher.

At l'école Philippe Gaulier. At a clown school. That was it. I did it. But no, I didn't really train in acting, no.

How do you... Well, I think... Yeah, I think, you know, we did an experiment after, in 2016. That show, Who's America, came out of me and my collaborator, Ant Hines and Dan Zweimer. We basically said, you know what, let's just create some characters. I'd done a movie. It'd been a complete bomb. And I was like, let's take this opportunity to create some characters. And we decided to go...

Every week for the next 10 weeks, we're going to create a character, write it, create a fake prosthetic head for it, and at the end of the week, shoot with a real person, with a character. And I did that for 10 weeks, and there were a variety of crazy characters, some that made it to the show. Six we put in the show. And then I realized, basically...

What I was able to do is once I've got the way the character speaks, and once I work out what it looks like, and once I work out what the clothes are, and I've got a couple of phrases, I can just stick in it. So that was... Because that was a couple of weeks in, I was like, oh, this is what I can do is I can... You know, they call it inhabiting a character, but I actually kind of...

You know, if I've got 30 seconds or whatever, then I can go in it. There must be something wrong with my brain.

Yeah, what making it real. I mean, it's funny, sometimes I get... You know, I'll have a director say, you know, I want you to do, you know, a scripted movie. And they'll go, this time you're going to be playing a real person.

And I go, hold on, the other people I play are real people, which is why I'm with Dick Cheney for three hours. And he doesn't doubt once that he's with a real person. What about Giuliani?

What can you say? Can you say anything? Can you talk about Giuliani? Yes, yeah, I can, I think, talk about Giuliani. That was amazing. I mean, essentially, you know, that movie... So we were like, why do we bring Borat back? And actually, I've got to thank Kimmel. where Kim said, we want you on. It was like the midterms.

And he wanted me to do some sketch where basically I was a kind of Ashton Kutcher type who had been manipulating Kanye West into turning him into a character that was so ridiculous that he would hang out with Donald Trump. And basically I said, I'll do it so long as Kanye will do it. This was years ago. This was 2008. 18, right? And so I called up Kanye and said, will you do this thing?

And it would be, you know, he'd already met up with Trump and I said, will you do this sketch where it says, you know, we're planning out, you know, we're going to create this ridiculous character and it's going to end up with you in Trump Tower and it's going to be as if you were playing along. And he said, I love the idea, but, you know, I need the president to agree. And I was like, Trump?

I go, don't, no, no, don't ask him. So, I couldn't do, he goes, no, I love him and I want you to, I need to ask him. I go, please do not tell him we're doing this sketch at all. So, I couldn't do that sketch. And then basically, I decided to do Borat. Actually, I spoke to Chris Rock. Is that a name drop? I think so. Sure.

It's a kind of name drop. Yeah. Here it is. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a name drop. So, I spoke to Chris Rock, world famous comedian and actor. And he said, why don't you... You know, I was in a rush. Basically, I was going to go on air two days' time. He said, just do Borat going door-to-door. We did Borat door-to-door, got the moustache out of storage.

And then I realised that basically Borat was just an extreme form of Trump. They had almost identical views... Wal-Mart was kind of 30 to 40% more extreme with everything. I was like, oh, great, we can bring him back for Trump. And then I was like, how do I infiltrate, you know, Trump's world? I go, okay, if he has a daughter who's 15, wouldn't it be great if, you know, Trump had sex with her?

And so, you know, originally I was trying to work out how to get this, you know, actress in with Trump. We got her close to him for a while, but it was, you know, we spoke to a lot of ex-secret service guys, and the idea was like, I would kind of jump out of the wall somewhere. We had like all these plans where, you know, Trump would be in a room, I would be inside the wall.

We would, you know, hollow out a wall, then build it up around me. And then I burst out when he was with her. And an ex-top Secret Service guy looked after the president. And we go, what do you think of this plan? I'm going to be in there. I'll be in there for like five hours. He said, the issue is that the Secret Service have a machine that sees if there's anyone else, anyone in the walls. No.

And I go, all right. So I go, what's worse comes worse. They find that I'm there. And what, they pull me out? He goes, no, they shoot you dead. I go, why? He goes, because why else would you be in a, why would there be a living person inside a wall unless they were trusting you?

So we basically gave up on Trump. Also, you know, We thought at the time that, you know, he was the most protected person in the world. I mean, this was prior to those last unfortunate incidents. But Rudy... But then we found out Rudy was a possibility. A little bit of a softer target. Yeah, but we knew that he was going to be crucial. Yeah. And we kind of researched him.

We found out what he drank, when he started drinking. Was the answer anything? I'm just asking. There was a particular type of alcohol. But then we heard that he would sweep the room. He had a very senior head of security who would come in and sweep the room. And so we built a kind of fake... inside the wardrobe.

So a fake back to, there was a wardrobe that if somebody opened it, it would have a fake back to him. Behind that was me. And so the idea was, you know, I'd just stand in there for, you know, an hour and a half and the necessary bit, jump out, if he was close to kissing, you know, the girl playing my daughter. And anyway, basically, we had a crew member who accidentally put me in the wrong room.

And I said, you know, so I would have to be in position for, you know, for this to happen. Otherwise, you know, there's no way to get into the room because his head of security would come into the room, sweep the room, sweep every room, and then he would sit outside so no one could come in with Rudy and her. And I was in the wrong room.

And I said, wait a minute, how long till Rudy, you know, goes to the room? And he said, oh, he's on his way there now. And I was like, now? And basically I ran to the room and I literally saw Rudy's leg come around the corner. I ducked into the room, went into the wardrobe, went behind the fake wall, closed it.

And then I heard the door open off his security, you know, sweep the room that I was in and then come out. So he swept through the room. We did the scene, you know, eventually. Oh, by the way, so I'm in there for an hour and a half. And, you know, the only way I can communicate with the director was through a cell phone. And we thought of everything.

I pick up the cell phone, I'm in the pitch black, and there's 3%. You know, an hour and a half. I was like, we did everything. We've got hidden cameras. But somebody had not charged the cell phone. So at some point, I had to kind of climb out of it and make eye contact with the brilliant actor Maria, who's playing my daughter. And she's like, really just on the bed.

And she's like coming out, looking at me, going, what do I do? And... And eventually, I confronted Rudy. He freaks out, goes out the room, and his head of security pushes me into the room. You know, I'm playing Borat, and Borat, you know, is so naive. You know, if he sees a chair, he'll say, what is this machine with four legs? You know?

And suddenly the head of security pushed me back into the room going, you're going nowhere. Because I had an escape route. So my security guy was going to take me down the escape route, but the head of security pushes me into the room and goes, you're going nowhere, you're staying right here. And I said, this is a false imprisonment.

You are standing on my property and you will leave now and unhand me now. And basically he realized that and read the law. Ran down, ran down the fire escape, got into a car, got to the crew hotel, and then essentially my lawyer says, he found out what we did, and he said, okay, you've got to get out the state now. I go, that's ridiculous. Why?

They go, Rudy had called something, and I'd met the manager of the hotel a year onwards in D.C., And he said Rudy had done something, I don't know what he'd called in, but he said every single type of law enforcement descended on the hotel, shut down the hotel, they confiscated all the equipment, all the crew was stuck in the hotel rooms. And then my security, I had a policeman that I'd hired

He realized that I'd set up Rudy Giuliani. He immediately told Rudy's security where I lived, where I was staying. Jesus Christ. And so my lawyer was like, get the hell out of New York City now. I was like, that seems a little bit over the top. I called up this other security guy I know. I know a lot of security guys. Who runs these kind of detectives, you know, New York and stuff like that.

And I said, listen, I've been told I have to leave New York State immediately. you know, in the next 20 minutes, because I interviewed someone, and I go, he goes, what did you do? And I go, you know, war likes, you know, lingerie, and da-da-da, politician. I go, he goes, who was it? I go, you know, it was Giuliani. He goes, get the hell out of the hotel now.

So I start texting everyone who I knew outside of New York, go, hi, how's it going? Haven't seen you for a few years. This was the middle of the pandemic. You know, this is when Manhattan was completely empty. You'd go up Fifth Avenue. There was not a car or a person. I go, how's it going? Any chance I could stay soon? When? 15 minutes.

And people are like, you know, people are like freaked out, not responding. Eventually, one of them says yes. And basically, I drive to Connecticut. And it was fantastic.

We got all the footage. And then, yeah, it was interesting. It was interesting.

I mean, I am... I remember the first film I did was Talladega Nights. Yeah. And it was the first trailer I'd been in. Ricky Bubby. And I went in, Ricky Bubby, and... And basically, I remember seeing that there was a bed in the trailer. And I'd never had a trailer beforehand because we'd always been in the back of a car. I was like, why is there a bed? Somebody's accidentally put a bed in my room.

They go, no, that's... I go, what am I meant to do with it? Sleep, you know. And so I thought, wow, this is actually an incredible gig. But, you know, when it's the other staff... It is, I mean, it's much less stressful. Yeah. Although, you know, I just did this show with Alfonso Cuaron.

Well, we had like a 15-minute scene, yeah, with me and Cate Blanchett. They wanted to do it in one take.

I mean, if it's good and you're working with an incredible director, then, and you're an incredible director, my friend.

No, you are. Can I just say, let's do the remainder of this about Jason. But yeah, then it is great.

No, because you're just doing the act. You know, everything else is, how are we going to get into the room? What's the escape route? Who's that person? That person's looking suspicious. This person doesn't quite believe me. My fake ear is falling off my head, you know. And then you're, you know, number eight... in the thing is I'm gonna act this scene.

Or are you done with that? I think they are... Yeah, I mean, the last one became so extreme. And... It was, you know, after that gun rally thing that I was talking about, I was essentially on the run. I had a militia kind of following me, and I was going from safe house to safe house for about four days. That's the movie. Yeah, exactly.

By the way, I mean, it's, that was, yeah, it kind of is the movie because, you know, you finish that, that song with that militia, you go, oh, that went really well. And then, you know, the escape itself is tough because we're in an ambulance. We're surrounded by 30 guys trying to pull me out of the ambulance. They pull open the door, you know, I'm struggling.

Yeah, I mean, no one's really... You know, that's the behind-the-scenes stuff. At some point, there needs to be a behind-the-scenes movie. We shot... We did have... We've got a bunch of footage of the last 25 years, but... Yeah, that... I think it became so crazy in the last one that you realize...

You've got to be, there's a certain amount of skill and preparation, but also you've got to be lucky. And at some point, your luck runs out.

Yes. Well, I think just the danger element meant that... I just didn't really want to do it again. You know, I felt I had to do it for that election. I had to do it. I felt it was like, you know, I was terrified about... Well, let's not come off the gas just yet, okay? Yes.

You're out.

I watched it for the first time in Venice.

And I mean, no one could believe that I hadn't watched it until then. And the embarrassing thing was I was laughing at the jokes that I'm making out. There's not many, but it's quite embarrassing. You're at a premiere watching yourself and you're one of the only people laughing at it. And then I was like really moved by one of my performances. I was like near tit.

And I realized I'm just a complete narcissist, just looking, just really moved by my own performance.

I never knew there was a connection between actors in movies and narcissism. No, I had no idea.

October 11th. Yeah, it came out. It came out October 11th.

Yeah.

And Sean, it'd be lovely to meet you in the flesh.

If you don't mind malicious coming to your door. No, are you kidding? What do they look like?

I'm awful at it. The honest truth is I'm very bad at it. It's terrible to me. Even though I'll see you socially. Socially, it's a pleasure, but the slight pressure with the... No pressure. No, this is great.

By the way, very muscly. I can see your... I don't know if you're doing this intentionally, but I've seen glutes. Oh, no, he's got everything. No, you've been working out. You're looking very muscly. Put your arms down. Are you doing this for a reason?

Wow. Early shorts.

Wow, you really actually do look incredible.

I love you. No, seriously, I love you both. Sean, you seem very lovely.

Miss you, Sasha. Always a pleasure. These two, I do love. I do love. We're trash compared to him.

I feel affectionate. I feel an instant warmth. Oh, he's a little love thing. Yeah, yeah. Very charming and lovely persona.

You're not going to sue me for saying that, are you? Okay. K. Monty Strong on our podcast. Loved it.

Thank you.

Honestly, I would say I thought it was excellent.

I personally thought it was excellent. By the way, I have seen stuff that I've done. I was like, that is bad. I laughed and I cried at myself.

All of them. Cate Blanchett. Cate Blanchett. A guaranteed Emmy tour de force. Cate Blanchett. End of quote. Kevin Kline. I am in this.

Kevin Kline's in it. He's actually fantastic in it.

All right. Enjoy the rest of your night. All right. Thank you. See you soon. Love to everyone. Okay, toodaloo. Thank you. Bye.

Bye, bye.

Come, come. Please. It's an honor. It's an honor to be 114th? Yes. You're deep. You should have been on earlier. Yeah.

Sasha.

Have we never met? That seems bizarre. I'm sorry. Lovely to meet you. Lovely to meet you, too.

I'm in Marea in French Polynesia where I live now.

Yeah, no, it's a bit.

You know what? I actually considered, I looked into it very thoroughly, jokes aside.

During the pandemic, yeah, during the pandemic, we knew we were going to move, but we were looking somewhere in the southern hemisphere.

I think at that point, it was somewhere in the southern hemisphere, and so we had missed the virus. We were advised by someone at Johns Hopkins, who I happen to know. And so we looked into French Polynesia. I looked carefully into Tahiti. It was interesting. Yeah. There's a bilingual school.

You know, there's beaches.

I have been to Marea. And I've been to, I've not been to the Brando. And I have been to Bora Bora. Where's the Brando? And I can tell you everywhere else that I've visited as well.

No, no, no. Quite right. Let's discuss the best hotels.

Yes. By the way, I am happy to discuss French Polynesia. At length. Till the end, yes. Actually, I was in a shark attack there once. You were? A feeding frenzy. You were in one? In Morea.

In those days, I think it's illegal now, they used to do something called shark feeding, where I was doing my paddy license and then...

Exactly.

And then, yeah, the guy I was with, some French instructor, basically said, we're going to feed some sharks. And then he puts on a kind of chain mail hand thing. Obviously, we're underwater. And he just said, be near me. And it was just me and him. And he basically breaks open a sardine, I remember it. And then I remember seeing the droplets of blood.

And then within literally two minutes, there were 12 sharks around. No way. And then he pulls out this bag, this tuna head. And he's got, you know, a chainmail hand on, chainmail kind of glove on. And they start, you know, eating the thing. And it's really interesting. And I'm there opposite. Then they get carried away.

And there's a feeding frenzy. And you can't see anything.

He's not looking at me. His glove gets knocked off and his regulator gets knocked out of his mouth. And then he leaves.

He goes up and leaves me alone with the 12 shocks. And I can't see a thing.

No, nothing. It was literally nothing.

That did not happen when the sharks knocked the regulator out of his mouth and knocked the gloves off and he swam away.

I was, and I basically started hyperventilating. I mean, this was my second time diving in my life. Yeah, but I mean like... And then actually the guy, he put his regulator back on.

put the glove back because he'd left me alone. Went back down and then the first shot went to attack him and he punched it in the nose. I mean, this is not good for animal rights lovers out there. No, but that's what you're supposed to do.

I don't think so. I think they were just in a friendship. He head-butted the big shark. Did they interview the shark after?

He headbutted one of the sharks, the lemon shark, which I think was kind of bad. Those are big. 12 feet long.

He headbutted that shark.

Afterwards, I did go up to him and I said, has anyone... In the end, I basically came over to check my oxygen and I completely run out of oxygen. And then we did some emergency procedure and... where you take his regulator.

This is how we regulate. This is a very long ruse. We're both in this. We go down below.

I did say to him, I said, has anyone ever got hurt on any of your dives? And he said, two people have died.

For real. But it was painless. Yeah, he was a cave diver. Those guys are completely crazy. And, you know, he basically missed the fun and the thrill of cave diving.

Not really. No, no, no, no. Have you ever skydived? Would you? I have not. I would not. Have you? Have you?

It's part of the last name, yeah.

Firstly, thank you very much for that description. It was lovely. I could spend all day doing that. But please don't. I think it was the first time... Actually, the second time I did Borat. So basically, Borat was created... I was doing like a... a satellite TV show called F2F, where I was the host of it. It was a discussion show for teenage kids. We'd talk about everything.

And you'd talk about teen topics. And, you know, I wanted to be a comedian. And so I would go and pre-record characters that I could throw to. And basically, I went out once and...

I had a kind of skateboarding character that was an early form of Ali G. And then I basically saw some real skateboarders, and the guy I was with, this sort of old director from E-Link Studios, who had lost all his money and was working on this really shitty satellite TV show, I said, look, those guys look like me. I go, do you think I should talk to them? And he said, 100%.