Sacha Baron Cohen becomes highest-paid Brit in Hollywood

London: `Bruno` star Sacha Baron Cohen has become the highest-paid British actor in Hollywood after signing on a new film which will add USD 40 million to his bank balance.

The comedian who played a flamboyant gay reporter in the superhit mockumentary` "Bruno" will be paid USD 20 million to star in "The Goat Herder" as well as 20 per cent of the first Box Office gross, reported a news website. Until now, Britain`s highest-paid film actor was "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe, who earned USD 35 million last year for starring in two films, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Parts I and II. Cohen`s deal is being called `unprecedented` because he is not considered a A-list actor and the film industry has not seen such huge salary cheques in a while because of the recession. "Everyone in Hollywood is talking about Sacha`s deal, as it is unprecedented. The whole move in Hollywood in the past couple of years has been away from huge salaries and any type of Box Office receipts for the talent. But Sacha has totally blown through that," said a source in Paramount Studios who have signed the deal with the actor. "He is a major A-list star now and part of the movie industry elite. It is an astonishing deal. As long as the film is a hit he could make upwards of USD 40 million. He has entered Jim Cameron (James Cameron) territory," added the source. The movie about a deposed tyrant and a goat herder who are mistaken for each other, will be co-written by Cohen with the film`s producers Alec Berg and Jeff Schaffer. Notoriously publicity-shy, Cohen recently received some more good news as his wife, actress Isla Fisher, is expecting their second child. PTI