Sacha Baron Cohen was once told he was "too tall" to pursue his dream career.
The actor, best known for his razor-sharp satirical characters such as Ali G and Borat Sagdiyev, has taken on an entirely different role in Netflix's new comedy film, Ladies First.
In the Netflix production, which boasts an impressive ensemble cast, the 54-year-old London-born star portrays an arrogant yet charming ladies' man, who "finds his life of money, power and casual flings upended when he wakes up in a parallel world dominated by women".
Widely recognised for his towering stature, Baron Cohen is regarded as one of Hollywood's tallest leading men, alongside the likes of Hugh Jackman and Chris Hemsworth.
Standing at approximately 190.5-191cm, or 6ft 3inches, he notably dwarfed his ex-wife, actress Isla Fisher, who measures just 5ft 2inches.
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The couple, who had been married since 2010, announced their split in April 2024. The English actor and Australian actress, known for her roles in Now You See Me and Scooby-Doo, first met in 2001 at a party in Sydney.
They had three children together and were married for 13 years before sharing a joint Instagram statement about their divorce. Alongside a photo of the couple posing in tennis outfits, the pair wrote that they were "finally putting our racquets down".
As for Baron Cohen's height, was precisely his imposing stature that reportedly steered him away from an entirely different profession altogether.
Speaking to The New York Times, the star revealed he had harboured ambitions of becoming a chef from an early age, only to be discouraged by one of the industry's most celebrated figures, Raymond Blanc.
He said: "I finished high school and there was a chef called Raymond Blanc who got a Michelin star. I went over to his restaurant, called Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, and I asked to work there and he declined.
"He said I was too tall to work in the kitchen, and then I gave up my dream of becoming a chef." Journalist and food critic Richard Vines tweeted the quote and received a good-humoured reply from Raymond Blanc himself, who said he doubted he "broke" Baron Cohen's dreams, but he was keen to see him again and would welcome him for a trial in his kitchen.
During the summer of 2025, the actor unveiled a remarkable physical transformation in preparation for his portrayal of Mephisto in Marvel's Ironheart.
Images of his dramatic makeover spread like wildfire across social media, with fans left stunned by the Borat star showing off his physique in a white T-shirt.
He had joked on Instagram: "Hard launching my mid-life crisis." One fan commented in response: "I'm sorry, but thirst trap Borat was not on my 2025 bingo card."
His most recent project, Ladies First, has claimed the number one position on Netflix despite attracting divided opinions from audiences.
While some dismissed it as a "ridiculous waste of time", others praised it as an "incredible movie".
Ladies First is streaming on Netflix now.
