Jonathan Bailey had a fairly sudden rise to fame when he starred as the dreamy Lord Anthony in Regency drama Bridgerton in 2020.
The Oxfordshire-born star, 37, bagged the role of a lifetime as the pandemic hit, with the huge Netflix part propelling him to international stardom – something he later said he ‘really struggled with’.
But despite the challenges of suddenly being in the public eye, it set him on a path to acting success with later roles in blockbuster films Wicked and Jurassic World Rebirth, after previously swimming in smaller circles with theatre work and supporting parts.
Fast-forward to 2025 and the star is very much still on top as the second part of the Wicked movie is about to be released and he’s been named the first ever openly gay People’s Sexiest Man Alive.
On Monday he called the title ‘the honor of a lifetime’ before revealing that he was ‘still giggling’ about being the cover star.
So how has he made it to the top of the acting world?
Jonathan Bailey had a fairly sudden rise to fame when he starred as the dreamy Lord Anthony in Regency drama Bridgerton in 2020 (seen with co-star Simone Ashley)
The Oxfordshire-born star, 37, bagged the role of a lifetime as the pandemic hit, with the huge Netflix part propelling him to international stardom – something he later said he ‘struggled with’
But despite the challenges of suddenly being in the public eye, it set him on a path to acting success with later roles in blockbuster films Wicked (seen with Ariana Grande) and Jurassic World Rebirth
Early roles
Jonathan began making waves as a child actor, working in big London shows by the ages of seven and eight.
This included a role as Gavroche in the West End production of Les Misérables.
He first appeared on screen in 1997 when he starred in the British television series, Bramwell, when he was just nine years old.
He went on to have bit parts in various procedurals, including The Bill and Lewis.
In 2011, Bailey then played the role of Leonardo da Vinci in the CBBC action-adventure series Leonardo.
After this came various impressive theatre roles before he landed a part in the hugely-popular ITV crime series Broadchurch.
He played local journalist Olly Stevens in the first two series before going on to star in Fleabag icon Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s first TV project called Crashing.
In 2011, Bailey then played the role of Leonardo da Vinci in the CBBC action-adventure series Leonardo
He went on to have bit parts in various procedurals, including The Bill and Lewis (seen in Lewis series four)
After this came various impressive theatre roles before he landed a part in the hugely-popular ITV crime series Broadchurch (seen)
He also featured heavily in the mockumentary sitcom W1A between 2014 and 2017.
Also on the big screen, Jonathan appeared in the 2007 comedy film St Trinian’s.
He was then among the cast for Permanent Vacation and Elizabeth: The Golden Age, which were both released that same year.
Jonathan is the recipient of a Laurence Olivier Award and a Critics’ Choice Television Award.
He achieved the Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical at the Laurence Olivier Awards in 2019 for his performance in the musical Company.
Before any major roles he had actually secured a music scholarship to Magdalen College School at Oxford to play the piano and clarinet.
However, after securing a talent agent at fifteen and booking acting roles, he eventually declined his university acceptance offer and chose drama school instead.
Bridgerton breakthrough era
Jonathan would rise to international stardom in Bridgerton in 2020.
He was first introduced to us as the brooding and sexually promiscuous brother of main female lead Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor).
The first series focused on Daphne’s love affair with Regé-Jean Page’s character the Duke of Hastings.
However the second series was all about him and his steamy romance with Simone Ashley’s character Kate Sharma.
Jonathan would rise to international stardom in Bridgerton in 2020
He was first introduced to us as the brooding and sexually promiscuous brother of main female lead Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor)
The second series was all about him and his steamy romance with Simone Ashley’s character Kate Sharma
Previously Jonathan said he ‘really struggled’ with fame after starring in the hit Netflix show which was created by Shonda Rhimes.
‘I really struggled initially; I was overwhelmed by it,’ he told British Vogue.
‘But the people in your life have to adapt too. That’s the hardest thing: you see them struggling before you see it in yourself, someone pushing past your dear mum and dad to get a picture.
‘I’m really good now at saying no to photos.’
Bond rumours
Back in June the star responded to rumours linking him to the iconic tux of James Bond during an exchange with Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2.
Speculation about the forthcoming movie has been heating up this year with film-lovers desperate to discover who will be following in the footsteps of Daniel Craig.
He relinquished his ‘license to kill’ with the 2021 film No Time To Die, which also proved to be the last masterminded by Bond producer of 30 years Barbara Broccoli after Amazon took over ‘creative control’ of the franchise.
Having spent a reported $1billion on sealing the deal, the company are said to be fast-tracking the new movie with Hollywood producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal hired to bring in the new era of Bond.
They’re likely to want to put their own spin on 007, with Jonathan said to be one of the names in the running.
Back in June the star responded to rumours linking him to the iconic tux of James Bond during an exchange with Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2
Pressed by Scott about the rumours, he responded: ‘That’s an amazingly flattering ask. I mean, it would be hard to say no’
And during an appearance on Scott Mills’s BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show this summer, Jonathan was asked about the possibility of him becoming Bond.
Pressed by Scott about the rumours, he responded: ‘That’s an amazingly flattering ask. I mean, it would be hard to say no.’
While Jonathan stopped short of confirming anything official, he teased: ‘I don’t know, I really honestly… I mean it would be hard to say no.’
The actor then joked with Scott: ‘I could imagine you as James Blonde,’ to which the host replied: ‘Well swerved!’
‘I know that it’s going to be exciting whatever they do,’ Jonathan then affirmed.
Wicked
In more recent years Jonathan is likely best known for his work as Prince Fiyero in Wicked.
He portrays the love interest of Ariana Grande‘s character Glinda and has an interesting, possibly romantic, dynamic with Cynthia Erivo‘s Elphaba.
The epic fantasy film is based on the 1995 book by Gregory Maguire that was later turned into a three-time Tony Award winning Broadway musical in 2003.
Wicked: For Good is set to hit cinemas on November 21.
In more recent years Jonathan is likely best known for his work as Prince Fiyero in Wicked
He portrays the love interest of Ariana Grande’s character Glinda and has an interesting, possibly romantic, dynamic with Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba
Jonathan recently detailed how the story has evolved, saying it will be ‘darker’ and the characters will ‘go there politically’ as his character also ‘transforms’.
He continued: ‘It’s darker, and I’ve got a sense it’s going to go there politically as well. Fiyero’s arc really kicks off and he literally is transformed by the end.’
‘There really is lots of new stuff. When [Fiyero] leaves with Elphaba and they go to her lair where she’s staying – on stage you just accept that she’s living in a pit of dry ice, but in the film it’s really beautifully realised and thought out by the departments and Cynthia and me.’
The role has cemented him as a true Hollywood superstar, with fans looking forward to what he will do next.
His performance earned him a nomination for a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, alongside another nomination for the film’s cast for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
Sexuality
Jonathan came out to his close friends and family in his early twenties. It came after he was in a two-year relationship with a woman.
‘It’s interesting with the binary,’ he previously of his sexuality ‘where you’re perceived to be either this or that. That’s how I saw it at the time, but there are so many nuances to it.
‘My experience of that relationship was not that I was in the shadows. She remains one of my best friends.
‘I think other people understood my sexuality before I was even aware of it.’
In 2022 he said he felt pressured to hide his sexuality in order to further his career after being told a publicly gay actor would struggle to win roles.
He admitted to having reservations about public disclosure after discussing the issue with actor friends and casting directors about the difficulties associated with being openly gay in the TV and film industry.
Speaking to GQ Hype he recalled his initial reaction after a friend told him about his own experience while auditioning for roles.
Jonathan came out to his close friends and family in his early twenties
‘At the time he was told “There’s two things we don’t want to know: If you’re an alcoholic or if you’re gay,”‘ he told the publication.
‘All it takes is for one of those people in that position of power to say that, and it ripples through. So, yeah, of course I thought that. Of course I thought that in order to be happy, I needed to be straight.’
Eventually he made the decision to be speak publicly about his sexuality after becoming frustrated with the restrictions a closeted public image placed on his personal life.
He said: ‘I reached a point where I thought, “F**k this.” I’d much prefer to hold my boyfriend’s hand in public or be able to put my own face picture on Tinder and not be so concerned about that, than getting a part.’
He was rumored to have been in a relationship with fellow actor James Ellis from 2019 to 2022. Though neither ever publicly confirmed the romance.
