The real Bruno

0 Comments | Daily Mirror, The; London (UK), May 21, 2009 | by ALUN PALMER

HE'S a gay Austrian TV presenter with blinding white teeth, an improbable tan and a habit of courting controversy.

No, not Bruno - real-life star Alfons Haider.

But when you look at him, the parallels are so uncanny you can't help drawing a comparison.

Bruno is the latest comedy character by Sacha Baron Cohen to get a big-screen outing in the follow-uto his worldwide hit Borat. Just like the TV presenter from Kazakhstan, fashion journalist Bruno dupes victims into playing out hilarious scenarios.

Baron Cohen, 37, outraged Texan congressman Ron Paul by having Bruno try to bed him.

The unwitting former presidential candidate, a stalwart rightwinger, agreed to an interview about European finances - but was ushered into a darkened room where Bruno, in a skimpy leather outfit, tried to seduce him.

Alfons has never been accused of anything so outrageous, but he has had his moments.

He caused a storm at an Austrian film award night by stuffing the gong down his trousers. Recently, he walked out of a TV interview when asked about his apparently diva-like behaviour on the Austrian version of Strictly Come Dancing.

He told the interviewer he should ask "something more inter- esting" before tipping a pot of jelly babies over his head, saying: "How about this? Happy Easter!" But when we tracked the 51year-old down yesterday, he was deeply surprised and flattered by the "real- life Bruno" tag.

"I am surprised by all the attention because I never had the slightest idea that the character is close to me," he says.

"I am not scared it is going to harm my career - I think it is wonderful. Sacha is a great actor and comedian and I am sure it will be hilarious. But I am not right-