VARIOUS: 'The Dictator', featuring British comic Sacha Baron Cohen in character as General Aladeen of fictional country the Republic of Wadiya, rolls into London for the world premiere
Record ID:
220813
VARIOUS: 'The Dictator', featuring British comic Sacha Baron Cohen in character as General Aladeen of fictional country the Republic of Wadiya, rolls into London for the world premiere
- Title: VARIOUS: 'The Dictator', featuring British comic Sacha Baron Cohen in character as General Aladeen of fictional country the Republic of Wadiya, rolls into London for the world premiere
- Date: 11th May 2012
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 10, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GENERAL ALADEEN SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS / GENERAL ALADEEN WALKING UP TO BROADCASTER CNN AND PUTTING OUT HAND FOR REPORTER TO KISS
- Embargoed: 26th May 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAAOHJ3EBAM6643ITSNM51463A9
- Story Text: Fictional character General Aladeen of the country of Wadiya, played by British comic Sacha Baron Cohen, talked about same-sex marriage on Thursday (May 1) after U.S. president Barack Obama voiced his support for the cause and jokingly urged Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel to get a sex change operation to become a woman.
Cohen, as with his previous comedic roles as the Kazakhstan journalist "Borat" and gay Austrian fashionista "Bruno", remained in character at all times throughout the world premiere of the film.
Aladeen is Cohen's outlandish comedy character for the upcoming mockumentary film "The Dictator," about the oppressive ruler of fictional Republic of Wadiya who is hellbent on keeping democracy at bay during his reign of terror.
Flanked by female bodyguards, similar to late Libyan prime minister Muammar Gaddafi, Aladeen rolled onto the red carpet with his orange Lamborghini atop a flatbed truck.
He told the audience he refused to pay the clamp charges in north London so brought the entire lorry to the premiere.
Aladeen told the audience he was granting political asylum to his "wrinkly friend" News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch: "We also have mobile phone hacking in Wadiya," he said referring to the scandal involving Murdoch's now defunct newspaper The News of the World, "Everyone who has a phone, we hack off their hands."
When asked about his stance on same-sex marriage in light of Obama's announcement on Wednesday (May 9) supporting the issue, Aladeen said there was no homosexuality in his fictional country of Wadiya.
"Well in Wadiya we do not have any gays, although sometimes we do sex activity with men but not for, er, just for the pleasure. But I am very happy because yesterday Nicholas Clegg and David Cameron re-newed their vows and now they are the world's most famous gay couple," he told Reuters Television, referring respectively to the British Deputy Prime Minister and British Prime Minister renewing their political coalition on Wednesday, after both parties suffered major losses in local elections on Sunday (May 6).
Aladeen also cleared up rumours of a "transgression" that involved both U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her husband, former U.S. president Bill Clinton.
"One time at the Axis of Evil gathering what happened was (Former North Korean leader) Kim Jong-il, may he rest in peace, he got so drunk he passed out, and me and (Former Libyan prime minister Muammar) Gaddafi we wrote on his face 'Hillary sat here' and then we wrote above his asshole we wrote 'Bill was here'."
Aladeen also commented on Hollywood celebrities he's had sex with including actress Hilary Duff, former talk show host Oprah Winfrey, and "Knocked Up" comic actor Seth Rogan, of which Aladeen admitted "He didn't touch me. I did him. It was a bet between me and Gaddafi. And I lost."
He told a German news crew that their leader should consider changing genders.
"By the way Angela Merkel you need to look after your appearance. I think Merkel would be more successful if Merkel has a sex change and becomes a woman."
Actress and wife of Cohen, Isla Fisher, who appeared in "Wedding Crashers" and "Confessions of a Shopaholic", talked about her husband always been in character for his movies.
"I mean luckily he doesn't bring the characters home emotionally but he certainly does physically. I've had to look at the handlebar moustache when he was Borat for a long time, and then bleach-blond hair (for Bruno) for a while, and now I've been looking at the big beard. And it's always a relief when a movie wraps," she said.
Actress Anna Faris, who announced on Thursday she was pregnant for the first time, plays an androgynous character in the film. She talked about whether Aladeen made any passes at her on set: "No he was very much a gentleman," and talked about working with Cohen the actor "It was such an honour, I've been a fan of his for so long and to be asked to be a part of this was such a thrill. It was always an adventure though, everyday, you never knew what was going to happen."
Director Larry Charles said although he helmed the movie, he didn't want to overstep his authority.
"I am the dictator on the movie, but I also worked for 'The Dictator', so I could be (makes beheading gesture and noise) at any time. I'm replaceable," he said.
British actor Adeel Akhtar, who also starred in Chris Morris' "Four Lions" about clumsy terrorists, talked about whether it was safe now to see the funny side of terrorism.
"That was the aim of these two films. I suppose the idea is to find the comedy in things we shouldn't be laughing at which is quite an important thing, especially in these times," he said.
"The Dictator" will open in the UK and US on May 16. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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