Sacha Baron Cohen transformed herself for Marvel villain Mephisto, a new avatar after his divorce
This is not a typical mid-life crisis
At 52, Sacha Baron Cohen has revealed a shocking physical transformation that has fans taking a second look. T
The comedy legend recently appeared on the cover of Men’s Fitness UK with a seriously muscular body—a far cry from the skinny frame that once wore Borat’s famous mankini.
“It’s not AI”
Addressing the inevitable skepticism, Cohen wrote on Instagram with a fun disclaimer: “It’s not AI. I’m just really cocky enough to think it can.”
The same self-sarcasm humour we’ve come to expect, now with unexpected six-pack abs.
The recipe for transformation
How did he achieve this remarkable transformation? With his characteristic honesty, Cohen explained: “Some celebs use Ozempic, some use private chefs, others use personal trainers.
I used all three.” There’s no Hollywood smoke and mirrors here—just the harsh reality about the resources available to stars.
New avatar after divorce
The importance of timing hasn’t gone unnoticed. After finalizing his divorce from longtime partner Isla Fisher in June, Cohen captioned a muscular photo: “Hard launching my mid-life crisis.”
That self-awareness adds an endearing layer to what might otherwise have seemed like typical celebrity vanity.
Marvel connection
This dramatic physical makeover serves a purpose beyond personal renewal.
Cohen is stepping into the demonic shoes of Mephisto, a long-awaited Marvel villain who finally made his MCU debut in the season finale of “Ironheart.”
From Borat to Brimstone
The contrast between his past and present couldn’t be more stark.
Face-to-face photos of Cohen at the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards (as Borat) and this year’s Vanity Fair Oscar Party highlight his 20-year evolution from skinny prankster to sinister supervillain.
Behind the Muscles
Working out with personal trainer Alfonso “The Angry Trainer” Moretti, Cohen joked about “making me cum for 25 minutes every day.”
In the magazine interview, he offered accessible advice: “Just 20 to 30 minutes of movement every day can make a real difference,” before adding jokingly,
“Especially for celebrities who have personal assistants to do all the boring work like shopping and attending friends’ funerals.”
Marvel’s Plans Revealed
Created in 1968 by Stan Lee and John Buscema, Mephisto has been a major villain in Marvel Comics.
Despite years of fan theories (especially during “WandaVision”), MCU boss Kevin Feige confirmed they were saving this demonic character for the right moment.
Now that he’s arrived, Feige hinted: “The plan is clearly, theoretically, to use him more.”
For fans of both Baron Cohen and Marvel, this unexpected collision of worlds promises something truly unique on the horizon.