Jonathan Bailey has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most magnetic young actors. In late 2025, the 37-year-old English performer was named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive—the first openly gay man to receive the honor. Known for his charm, wit, and tall, handsome looks (5′11″), Bailey first gained attention with his stage work, earning an Olivier Award in 2019 for best-supporting actor in the gender-swapped revival of Company. He began performing as a child and built a strong foundation in both dramatic theater, including King Lear and Cock, and musicals such as Les Misérables and The Last Five Years.
By 2020, Bailey catapulted to international fame with Netflix’s Bridgerton as Lord Anthony, and he parlayed that success into major film roles, including Wicked and Jurassic World: Rebirth. He also earned an Emmy nomination for the Showtime limited series Fellow Travelers. In 2025, he became the highest-grossing box office star, solidifying his status as a global entertainment powerhouse whose every move continues to captivate fans worldwide.
Bridgerton and TV Stardom
Jonathan Bailey first became a household name playing Viscount Anthony Bridgerton in the Netflix Regency drama Bridgerton (debuting 2020). As Anthony Bridgerton, an eligible bachelor and head of the Bridgerton family, he was caught in a passionately anticipated romantic storyline with the character Kate Sharma (played by Simone Ashley). Reviewers and fans praised their “effortless connection,” and Bailey himself noted that Anthony’s arc had him “think about love a lot” on and off screen.
Bridgerton’s massive popularity in 2020 made Bailey famous almost overnight – he even recalls waking up to news reports asking “Where is my journal? Is this real?” after Bridgerton aired. The series ran for multiple seasons (he appears in Season 1 and 2) and continues filming, so Bailey remains associated with the franchise.
Besides Bridgerton, Jonathan Bailey has showcased his range in other TV dramas. In 2023 he starred in Showtime’s gay romance Fellow Travelers opposite Matt Bomer, playing a 1950s congressman in a secret relationship. That role earned him a 2023 Primetime Emmy nomination for supporting actor. In that series he and Bomer portray decades-spanning lovers, and Bailey has said playing the closeted staffer was a “no-brainer” choice after his journey with Bridgerton.
His co-stars and peers have also noted he’s a pro: People reports that Jonathan Bailey has been “grateful to work alongside ‘brilliant’ talent like Matt Bomer, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Scarlett Johansson”, alluding to his Fellow Travelers co-star Bomer and other castmates. (Indeed, his Bridgerton co-star Simone Ashley remains a friend, and Bailey often mentions how on-set chemistry fuels his performances.) Overall, Bailey’s TV and streaming work – from family drama to political romance – has cemented him as a charismatic leading man in diverse roles.
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Wicked: Stage to Screen Musical Magic
Musicals have long been central to Jonathan Bailey’s career, and he took a leap from stage to screen with Wicked. In the big-budget film adaptations (2024’s Wicked Part One and upcoming Wicked: For Good), Bailey plays Prince Fiyero, the charming love interest torn between Glinda and Elphaba. His portrayal as the “scene-stealer Prince Fiyero” was a hit – LGBTQ Nation notes that he “earned legions of young fans in between with his big screen debut in the mega-musical hit Wicked”. (Bailey studied ballet as a youth and grew up on musical theater, so singing and dancing come naturally – he even sang at his audition five minutes before going onstage in a London play.)
(Image Source: People.com)
Not only did he meet the demands of that key role, but he also embraced the behind-the-scenes transformation: Bailey jokingly told Esquire UK that while filming Wicked: For Good his character’s fully prosthetic scarecrow makeup made him look like a “big wheat penis” without the straw hair! In other words, he’s game for whatever the role requires, including heavy prosthetics. (That NSFW quip made headlines – exactly the sort of outrageous anecdote that modern fans love.)
On and off camera, Jonathan Bailey remains upbeat about the Wicked experience. He’s filmed special features like NBC’s Wicked: One Wonderful Night, where he recalled filming his audition tape hilariously “karaoke style” in a rush. But even outside the studio, he expresses fondness for the franchise. For example, after joining the Wicked cast, he often shared behind-the-scenes tidbits and photos, and his castmates even wore sweatshirts featuring his Sexiest Man Alive cover photo to promote the movie.
In interviews Jonathan Bailey has called playing Fiyero an “emotional victory lap” and noted how Wicked has been a dream project. All of this suggests that Wicked – both on stage and in film – is a defining current chapter for him, one that fans and media are following closely.
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Jurassic World Rebirth and Blockbuster Roles
Meanwhile, Jonathan Bailey has jumped into action and sci-fi with Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025), the latest Jurassic Park sequel. In this blockbuster he co-stars with Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali as Dr. Henry Loomis, a paleontologist racing to recover live dinosaurs before they go extinct. Entertainment Weekly notes that Bailey’s character even has a thrilling voiceover line: “‘These dinosaurs were too dangerous for the original park. The worst of the worst were left here,’” says Dr. Loomis in the trailer.
The film – set partly on the original island of Jurassic Park – was shot on location in Thailand, and Jonathan Bailey has described the first day of filming (with a mudslide scene) as “iconic,” saying he got goosebumps on set. Clearly, he’s embracing the adventure of that franchise as eagerly as he did his musical roles.
Perhaps one of the funniest fan reactions to Jonathan Bailey in Jurassic World has been about his eyewear. In the trailer and on the red carpet he sported tiny, slim sunglasses – so-called “slutty little glasses” – which quickly became an internet meme. EW quotes him laughing about it: “I’m thrilled that people are… having a hormonal explosion linked to optical supports,” he quipped on camera. Bailey himself said he’s “on top of this year’s trend of slutty little glasses” and wants “the summer of slutty little glasses” to continue. (He also joked to press that underneath those glasses he just wears flip-flops and a cap – style advice being as unpretentious as his personality.)
All of this shows he can laugh at himself and that audiences adore his every move. In short, from period romance to blockbuster action, Jonathan Bailey’s film roles keep expanding – and trending conversations (glasses included) follow him everywhere.
Sexiest Man Alive and Award-Winning Career
By 2025, Jonathan Bailey’s charm had earned him more than just box-office draw – it won him cultural honors. Shortly after he was named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive, media were quick to point out that it was a historic choice. LGBTQ Nation celebrated that “People Magazine named a gay man Sexiest Man Alive for 2025”, making Bailey the first openly gay man to hold the title. In interviews Bailey has been delighted (and a bit bemused) by the attention, calling it “a huge honor” and “completely absurd” at once.
People’s profile described him as “brimming with charm, wit and almost unfairly handsome looks”, and he’s grinned through the publicity: one cover shoot even involved him jumping into the chilly ocean for a shot (apparently his idea).
Beyond looks, Jonathan Bailey’s talent has been recognized by industry awards. As noted, he won a Laurence Olivier Award in 2019 for Company. On TV, Fellow Travelers garnered him a Critics’ Choice TV Award and an Emmy nod in 2023 for Supporting Actor. He was also nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Wicked films (a rare feat for an actor of musicals). Meanwhile, Time magazine named him one of 2024’s “Next” generation of top influencers.
All of this acclaim ties together: fans and critics alike see Bailey as both a talented actor and a heartthrob. Even his friends in the industry cheer him on his Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo blushes about GMA calling him “Sexiest Man Today,” and Ariana Grande and others have publicly applauded his cover.
The upshot is that Jonathan Bailey is “one of Hollywood’s most magnetic stars”. He often jokes that nothing is “sexier than progress,” reflecting pride in how he’s broken barriers. From the red carpet at the Met Gala to televised interviews, he maintains a down-to-earth persona: thoughtful about his roles, funny in anecdotes, and grateful for his success. Media coverage frequently highlights both his professional achievements and his playful side – for example, he has talked about enjoying LEGO-building dates and pizza as a perfect night. Whether it’s an award nomination, a trendsetting style choice, or a magazine cover, Jonathan Bailey’s star power is undeniable and continues to grow.
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Personal Life and Identity
Off-screen, Jonathan Bailey keeps a relatively private personal life, but he has shared a few details about love and identity. He is openly gay: he came out publicly in 2018 and has spoken about the journey to that decision. In interviews he has recounted how industry advice in his youth suggested being gay could hurt his career, and how it took time before he finally thought “F— this” and decided he’d rather be honest than hide his true self.
Today he is proud to be visible: LGBTQ Nation reports that he even launched The Shameless Fund in 2024 to support queer causes, and he often notes that his very being helps other young LGBTQ+ performers feel they can belong.
When it comes to romance, Jonathan Bailey generally declines to reveal names or faces. He rarely confirms partners publicly. In late 2023 he told the Evening Standard that he was dating “a lovely man,” but he offered no details, saying “It’s not secret, but it’s private”. (News outlets had previously linked him with actor James Ellis around 2019, when they attended an awards ceremony together, but Bailey never commented on that.) As of now, he has no publicly known husband or wife, only the hint that he’s in a relationship. He has said he values privacy so much that he wouldn’t feel comfortable speaking out on other issues if his “whole life was up for grabs”.
Jonathan Bailey also speaks about what he admires in a partner. He’s joked that his perfect date might include a shared LEGO-building session and pizza, and he emphasizes qualities like communication, transparency and mutual support as “turn-ons.” He’s quite open about that in interviews (like his Sexiest Man profile), but he makes sure to keep his partner’s identity off-limits.
In short, Jonathan Bailey’s personal keywords – partner, boyfriend, husband, wife – remain a mystery by design. He’s focused on his craft and grateful for success, and he treats his real-life love as something to protect. What is clear is that his sexuality is straightforward: he identifies as gay (never “bi,” as far as public statements go) and happily embraces the representation he provides.
His fans respect that discretion, and articles like this one can only share what he himself has shared: namely, that the British actor is dating someone, is extremely happy, and loves holding hands without apology. That simplicity seems to suit him: after all, he once said he’d rather be hand-in-hand with his boyfriend than worry about a part.
Net Worth & 2025 Box Office Success
Jonathan Bailey’s rising fame has translated into impressive financial success. As of 2025, his net worth is estimated between $3–5 million, reflecting his accomplishments across film, television, and stage. This year proved especially transformative: Wicked: For Good made a stunning $150 million domestically ($226 million worldwide) during its opening weekend, while Jurassic World: Rebirth earned $339.6 million domestically and $868.8 million worldwide, establishing Bailey as the highest-grossing box office star of 2025.
These blockbuster achievements, combined with his historic recognition as PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive, make 2025 arguably the biggest year of his career—professionally, culturally, and financially—cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s most bankable and celebrated stars.
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