You might know him best for making you laugh as Ali G or Borat, but now Sacha Baron Cohen is making headlines for something completely different—his body.
The 53-year-old comedian has undergone an intense physical transformation, and honestly, you’ve never seen him like this before.
The Marvel Role That Changed Everything
Sacha is stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a major villain role—he’s playing Mephisto, a character that’s as ripped as he is ruthless.
With just three weeks to get superhero-ready, Sacha had no choice but to go all in. And the result? A jaw-dropping physique that he proudly unveiled in the latest issue of Men’s Fitness UK.
A Shirtless Cover and a Brand-New Look
Looking absolutely unrecognizable from his comedy days, Sacha posed shirtless on the magazine’s cover, flaunting chiseled abs and sculpted arms.
It’s not just for show—he put in serious work.
Speaking to the magazine, Sacha shared that he needed expert help fast.
So, what did he do? He reached out to fellow actor Matthew McConaughey to get connected with celebrity trainer Alfonso Moretti.
Calling In Favors—With a Side of Humor
Sacha, never one to miss a joke, recounted the moment he rang McConaughey for help.
“I called Matthew and asked for help. After asking who I was and how I’d gotten his number, he finally gave me Alfonso’s contact,” he quipped.
That led to a FaceTime call with Moretti, where things got real—fast.
During their very first virtual meeting, Sacha had to strip down to his underwear so Alfonso could see what he was working with.
The No-Frills Fitness Regimen
With just three weeks on the clock, Alfonso didn’t throw Sacha into long, grueling workouts.
Instead, the focus was on consistency and simplicity: short, high-impact sessions and a diet high in fiber and protein, but low in sugar.
That meant daily 25-minute workouts—even during filming—and 100 push-ups every single day.
Sacha was impressed by how doable it all was.
“In the past, I would’ve thought you needed hour-long sessions,” he said.
“But the short workouts made it so much easier to stay consistent—even with the demands of being on set.”
Body Goals and Costume Chaos
The transformation was so dramatic that by the second week, Sacha’s body had already changed so much that Marvel’s wardrobe team had to spend $5,000 (£3,600) to alter his costumes.
He was leaner, stronger, and in the best shape of his life.
Trainer Alfonso was clearly proud of his client, calling Sacha “100% committed.”
Even on exhausting filming days, Sacha would text, asking if Alfonso had time to squeeze in a workout.
The Instagram Reveal—With a Side of Sass
Sacha officially unveiled his new look on Instagram, joking: “This is not AI, I really am egotistical enough to do this.”
He poked fun at Hollywood fitness trends, saying, “Some celebs use Ozempic, some use private chefs, others use personal trainers. I did all three.”
He didn’t stop there. “Hard launching my mid-life crisis,” he wrote, adding, “Debuting my new character: middle-aged man who replaced beer with protein shakes.”
Trainer’s Praise and Marvel’s Big Confirmation
Alfonso Moretti also posted the Men’s Fitness photos, gushing over Sacha’s dedication: “He trusted my process and followed the plan exactly.
Not only did he earn better health and fitness with incredible aesthetics… but also… The COVER of Men’s Fitness! From Borat to Buff!”
And yes, it’s official—Marvel boss Kevin Feige confirmed during a recent press conference that Sacha will play the infamous Mephisto in the MCU.
Comedy Legend to Comic Book Villain
Sacha first burst onto the scene in the ’90s with his outrageous Ali G character.
He later became a global sensation with his satirical portrayals of Borat and Bruno.
But this latest chapter in his career proves there’s a lot more to him than jokes.
The full feature and exclusive photos will be in the new issue of Men’s Fitness, hitting stands this Friday.