The actor reveals his Men’s Fitness UK cover while joking about using “Ozempic, private chefs, and trainers” to transform from “arthritic jellyfish” to MCU’s Mephisto.
Sacha Baron Cohen, 53, unveiled a dramatically muscular physique on the cover of Men’s Fitness UK, crediting intense preparation for his role as Mephisto in Marvel’s Ironheart series. The shirtless cover shows Cohen holding two 30-pound weights with the tagline: “From Borat to buff in 25 minutes a day.”
On Instagram, the actor humorously addressed his transformation:
“This is not AI, I really am egotistical enough to do this… Some celebs use Ozempic, some use private chefs, others use personal trainers. I did all three.”
“Hard launching my mid-life crisis… Debuting my new character: middle-aged man who replaced beer with protein shakes.”
Cohen thanked trainer Alfonso Moretti (recommended by Matthew McConaughey) for enduring 25-minute daily sessions. Moretti recalled Cohen initially had “the core strength of an arthritic jellyfish” and looked “like a ruler, straight up and down,” but believed he was “an athlete in hiding.”The regimen included a high-protein, high-fiber, low-sugar diet.
The physical overhaul supports his debut as Marvel’s next major villain, with producer Kevin Feige confirming Mephisto will be a “prominent figure” in the MCU. Fans flooded comments with reactions like “Thirst trap Borat was not on my 2025 bingo card” and “He’s 53?! Dude looks incredible.”
The full interview releases July 25.