The ‘Borat 2’ Babysitter Is a Real Person, Says She Was ‘Setup’
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm has been making waves ever since its Amazon Prime debut on Oct. 23. Like the first film that came out 14 years ago, the sequel features several scenes with people who have no idea they’re in a Borat movie. A few of those scenes involve Jeanise Jones, the 62-year-old grandmother who “babysat” Borat’s daughter, Tutar.
Since Borat Subsequent Moviefilm came out, Jones has spoken about her involvement in the film.
How Jeanise Jones came to star in ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’
According to the Los Angeles Times, Jones was recruited for the Borat sequel at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. She was paid $600 for the first scene she was in and $3,000 for the second.
“Yes, it was me in the Borat movie,” Jones wrote on Facebook. “I was recruited to be in a ‘Documentary’. At ABSOLUTELY NO time did I know this was a satirical comedy movie and that I was being ‘setup’ so to speak. It’s all good I just did what my Mother Ozell Smith (RIP) taught me to do from as far back as I remember.”
Jones was told Tutar (played by Maria Bakalova) was to be Mike Pence’s mistress. She says Bakalova was unbelievably dedicated to the part.
“The people in that house had a goldfish tank and she wanted to eat one. She was good,” Jones told Showbiz411. “She said women in her country didn’t sit in cars, didn’t go to school or have jobs. She was also wearing horse blinders, she said, to keep her focused. I finally convinced her to take those off.”
Why Sacha Baron Cohen wanted ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’ to appear on Amazon Prime before the election
Jones acted as one of the few voices of reason in the Borat sequel. She encouraged Tutar to make her own decisions (like whether she wanted breast implants or not) and question authority (like her father). She was the first taste of feminism Tutar got before setting out on her own to become a journalist.
It’s no surprise that Sacha Baron Cohen wanted the highly political film to be released before Nov 3. He told the New York Times that he insisted Borat Subsequent Moviefilm hit Amazon Prime Video with enough time before the election.
“We wanted it to be a reminder to women of who they’re voting for — or who they’re not voting for,” said Cohen. “If you’re a woman and you don’t vote against this guy, then know what you’re doing for your gender.”