How Jonathan Bailey Charmed Us All

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This story is part of the 2025 TIME100 Next. Read Ariana Grande’s tribute to Jonathan Bailey here.

You might spot Jonathan Bailey speeding by on a Lime Bike in London. He often appears focused, wearing headphones while heading to work or an interview. However, he’s likely thinking about his family and the sea-he finds a peaceful escape on the Sussex coast, about two hours south of London, to balance the demands of his career.

Bailey, 37, explained his decision to move to Brighton during the pandemic by saying, “In movies and music, silence feels much deeper after a really loud and chaotic moment.” He continued in an early September interview, “Things seem more intense now than they used to, so when something amazing happens, it’s balanced by an equal amount of stillness and peace.”

The last 14 months have been remarkably successful for Bailey. The actor, known for playing the handsome Prince Fiyero in Wicked, has excelled on stage, in television, and now in major Hollywood films-all without losing the friendly and down-to-earth personality that initially attracted fans during his 30-year career. While he might be seen at events like London Fashion Week, sitting in the front row at Burberry, you’re equally likely to find him having a casual conversation with a barista while getting a coffee at his go-to shop. Bailey developed his skills through theater, starting young, before moving on to television. He carefully selected his projects, delivering standout performances in popular shows like 2016’s Crashing, where he acted alongside the show’s creator, Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

The Netflix series Bridgerton is what made Bailey famous worldwide in 2020. Already in his 30s, the actor was well-prepared for the attention. Both the show and Bailey himself became a major part of popular culture. He quickly became a fashion icon – he describes his style as “relaxed, elegant slouch” – and a favorite on the internet. When asked at the 2024 Met Gala how it felt to be the “Internet’s boyfriend,” he jokingly replied, “Am I?” A key to Bailey’s popularity is his ability to portray masculinity in a healthy way. He’s navigated the unpredictable world of fame with grace, using viral moments to support charities and taking on meaningful roles that inspire positive change. And most importantly, he’s learned to “be cheeky” and enjoy himself.

The actor was the main focus when Wicked became a huge cultural phenomenon late last year. Before the first of two Wicked movie parts came out in November, Bailey joined co-stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jeff Goldblum (who he calls an “absolute hero”) on what he describes as an intense promotional tour. The film’s promotion quickly gained momentum. “It’s rare to see a press tour become the topic of conversation,” Bailey jokes, pointing out that Ariana Grande was even asked on The Graham Norton Show, to explain the now-famous “holding space” moment from a previous interview. “It’s sweet to see such talented people supporting each other,” he adds with a laugh. Bailey fully embraced the excitement, even secretly attending a Wicked sing-along in a movie theater to experience it as a fan.

In 2025, Bailey went back to where his acting career began – the stage – and starred as the lead in Nicholas Hytner’s production of Richard II. Soon after the play ended, he began a large promotional tour for Jurassic World Rebirth, alongside established stars Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali. This was a particularly meaningful experience for Bailey, who, as a child in the ‘90s, had dreamed of being near dinosaurs after watching Jurassic Park with his family.

When Bailey and I met, he was enjoying a relatively calm period before starting the publicity tour for Wicked: For Good, which is due to be released on November 21st. Over lunch at a central London hotel he considers a second home, Bailey shared stories about his summer. He talked about attending the Italian wedding of a close former roommate and a group vacation he planned to celebrate finishing his run in Richard II. He playfully criticized himself mid-sentence-“I actually hate it when people constantly call people their ‘best friends,’ it’s so irritating,” he said, stopping himself. Our conversation paused briefly when Bailey pointed to the window, where two men were walking along, holding arms. “So sweet!” he remarked with a smile. Bailey is a very observant person, not only of himself but also of the world around him; it’s this natural ability to notice things that makes him so engaging.

Bailey developed a love for stories – both listening to them and sharing his own – from a very young age. It all began when his grandmother, who is now 95, took him to see Oliver! at the theater. He began performing onstage at age 7, and one of his early roles was in Les Enfants du paradis at the Barbican in London, where he appeared alongside the late Helen McCrory.

Unlike many other actors, Bailey didn’t train at drama school. He’s been in a number of highly praised shows both in London’s West End and on Broadway. Bailey thinks of the theater as a way to mark the passage of time, always returning to the stage between filming projects. He really appreciates the strength and hard work that theater requires from performers. “I find it very focused. Physically demanding. It almost drives me a little crazy. It’s a mental workout and the whole process is completely exposed,” he explains. “I’m so grateful I learned early on how much careful dedication and constant effort it takes to keep performing. If something doesn’t go well? You just try again.”

He remembers a performance of Richard II where things didn’t go as planned. During a crucial scene where the king is overthrown, a lighting cue malfunctioned, forcing the actors to temporarily leave the stage. This immediately reminded the audience they were watching a play. Bailey actually used the energy of the moment – the excitement and uncertainty in the darkened theater – to his advantage. “That pause, interruption, and restart actually makes you more confident when you return,” he explains, thinking back to that time.

Bailey, who received a Laurence Olivier award in 2019 for his performance in Stephen Sondheim’s Company, believes performing in theater improves his on-screen work. “We performed Richard II 103 times-I didn’t miss a single show,” he explains. “You feel like you’ve given everything you have on stage, and that translates to a kind of agility when you return to a film set.”

His strong work ethic was really challenged when his career took off in 2022. He was managing three very different projects simultaneously. “It was amazing, but switching between the world of Oz [Wicked] and a fancy ball in the Regency era [Bridgerton] and then a 1970s gay disco in Canada [Fellow Travelers] was demanding,” he explains. Because he was so busy, Bailey arrived on set later than Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who were already well into rehearsals with director Jon M. Chu as Elphaba and Glinda. The three actors quickly became close. “I deeply admire both of them,” he says, adding that he’s dreading saying goodbye as the emotional Wicked wrap-up approaches.

The new movie features a moving duet between the characters played by Bailey and Erivo. Unlike the stage version, viewers will also witness the elaborate wedding of Bailey and Grande’s characters. Those familiar with the musical know the second act is a crucial point for the character of Fiyero, and for the actor who portrays him. “Fiyero has a natural charisma, enhanced by his comfortable upbringing, but he also seems to be subtly questioning things,” Bailey explains when discussing his character’s development. He believes Fiyero’s journey, and the story’s central message, could be particularly relevant today. “The government begins to decide who is worthy and who isn’t, who fits in and who doesn’t. Fiyero challenges his own advantages, and Glinda fights her own battles,” he adds.

Bailey is very aware of the current political climate and how his work reflects it. In the 2023 miniseries Fellow Travelers, he starred alongside Matt Bomer in a challenging love story set during the 1950s, a time marked by McCarthyism. The series spans several decades and depicts the struggles and mistreatment faced by the LGBTQ+ community, including during the AIDS epidemic.

The project inspired Bailey to dedicate his work to supporting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those who were pioneers. This motivation led him to establish the Shameless Fund in 2024, built on the straightforward principle: “Raising cash, erasing shame.”

I felt very strongly about the older people in our community-many are single, don’t have children, and are now entering care homes while facing homophobia. They’re often forced to hide their identities again… ” Bailey trailed off, his voice cracking with emotion. “Of the first five grants we awarded, two are going to organizations that support elderly LGBTQ+ individuals. We must take care of them because they fought so hard for our rights.”

Bailey is keen to help the LGBTQ+ community in any way he can. He explains, “Because rights are being taken away in a really frightening and harmful way, it’s especially important to be visible right now.” He continues, “Growing up feeling like you have something to hide, or something you’ll eventually have to deal with, takes a lot of energy and causes a lot of pain. This can unfortunately lead to people losing family or friends. That’s the truth for many.”

The actor has demonstrated impressive boldness and resourcefulness by using his public voice in this manner. He’s fully embraced trending moments, turned them on their head, and used them to connect with people. For example, when comments about his “slutty little glasses” gained attention during promotion of Jurassic , Bailey proactively joined the conversation, partnering with eyewear brand Cubitts to create his own version of the glasses. He donated half of the profits to the Shameless Fund. Bailey also captured fans’ interest by collaborating with Loewe (whose former creative director, Jonathan Anderson, is a close friend) on a line of “Drink Your Milk” T-shirts, a playful reference to an inside joke in Fellow Travelers. Loewe promised to donate a portion of the proceeds from each shirt sold to the fund. Bailey modeled the shirt, and his co-stars Bomer, Johansson, Erivo, and Grande quickly joined him. The T-shirts sold out very quickly.

Bailey is dedicated to improving his community and hopes his collaborators will share that commitment. In the future, he wants to work with companies that will contribute to his chosen charity. He says this dedication gives him a strong purpose: “It’s an easy thing to get out of bed for and focus on,” he explains about his work with the fund.

Bailey observes that many things happening globally feel deeply upsetting, pointing to changes in politics and the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. Because of this, he’s decided to concentrate his efforts on areas where he believes he can have a positive impact. “I’m dedicating myself to supporting vulnerable LGBTQ+ individuals as much as possible, working with experts at the Shameless Fund,” he explains. “Right now, even a small act of kindness can be incredibly meaningful.”

Bailey is still adjusting to being famous. When we left the hotel to get coffee, his hat and sunglasses helped him avoid attention. However, he’s discovering that people recognize him everywhere. During a lunch break, he told me someone stopped him in the bathroom just to say hello and ask for a selfie. And while on vacation in Italy, the hotel hostess kept calling him by his Bridgerton character’s name, “Anthony.” Bailey let her continue, which his friends found funny.

As a huge fan of Bridgerton, I was so excited to see Luke Bailey take the lead in season two – continuing that great tradition of passing the torch to a new couple. And honestly, it completely changed his everyday life! He told me the audience at his play shifted immediately. People started reaching out to him while he was just biking to work. He described it as “instant recognition,” which makes total sense. When you’re streaming, you’re often super comfortable – maybe in bed, relaxing – and you really get to know a character over eight hours. Then to suddenly see that person live… he said it felt like a really interesting sociological experiment, watching that connection translate from screen to reality.

Bailey’s generally positive interactions with fans have been a big help. “I’m really proud of the people who reach out and follow my work,” he explains. “They’re genuinely kind and good people-there’s a lot of sincerity and support.”

In the end, it’s up to the actor to control which side of himself people see – Jonny, the private man from Oxfordshire, or Jonathan Bailey, the actor famous for his work in film and theater. He admits he can’t completely separate himself from who he is in public, but there’s a clear distinction between the two. Certain parts of Jonny’s personal life, for instance, are kept private for his closest loved ones.

He describes himself as a private person. He explains, “I don’t have secrets, but I deeply value my close friendships and family.” He adds, “I really admire people who openly share their lives, but I express myself through the projects I take on.”

Though he generally keeps details about his personal life to himself, Bailey loves to talk at length about what feels like another family to him: the Bridgertons.

In his personal life, he’s the youngest of four children-he considers his three sisters his closest support system-but when acting, Bailey plays the oldest of the eight Bridgerton siblings. This is a notable shift, particularly because he naturally takes on an older-brother role with his fellow actors even when they’re not filming.

It makes me so happy to share that Florence Hunt and Will Tilston, who are just brilliant as the youngest Bridgerton kids, Hyacinth and Gregory, have finished their A-levels – that’s their high school finals! I was actually hearing from Bailey just after he’d been chatting with the rest of the cast. He showed me a message he’d just sent to their WhatsApp group, called “Bridgerton Bros.” It was totally random – he just wrote, “I hope that piano was singing!” It was so cute! The group chat picture is a behind-the-scenes snap of Bailey with his on-screen brothers, Luke Newton (who plays Colin Bridgerton) and Luke Thompson (Benedict Bridgerton), all making silly faces. It really shows how close they all are!

Bridgerton completely changed the landscape of romantic television and became a huge hit for Netflix when it first came out, especially because of the many fans who already loved the books. The show continues to be incredibly popular. When the third season launched in 2024, it quickly joined Season 1 as one of the top 10 most-watched shows ever on Netflix, gaining more than 100 million views.

People really connect with shows that go on for a long time, and they love romance, too. He says staying with the show for many seasons is a special opportunity, and he appreciates stories with characters you grow to know and care about. He’s excited to see what happens with Florence and Will’s stories and feels lucky to have a front-row seat. He can’t wait to watch their seasons unfold.

I can step back now that the hard work is finished. It’s really wonderful to see people you care about succeed and grow. I’m there for them if they need me. Also, I really like the character Anthony. He doesn’t have a father, and there’s a kind of father-son [relationship] developing between him and… well, I don’t want to give anything away,” Bailey says.

Differing from the original novels, the fourth season of Bridgerton, scheduled to premiere in 2026, will focus on Benedict and his journey of self-discovery as he develops feelings for Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), a servant concealing her background at a masked ball. Luke Bailey strongly supports this new direction, celebrating his character’s exploration of queerness as a positive portrayal of a “romantic hero” and describing the next season as “amazing.”

In addition to reprising his role in the historical drama, Bailey has several interesting projects lined up for the coming year, but he’s keeping the details under wraps for now. He isn’t planning to stop acting altogether; he simply intends to pursue other opportunities alongside his work in film and theater. He’s also committed to supporting the Shameless Fund and wants to ensure it remains a lasting part of his contribution to the world.

“My biggest hope is to keep working and finding inspiration in the people I meet,” he shared when asked about his future dreams. “I have a feeling the next few years will be very busy, so I plan to savor every experience.”

And with that, he picks up his slutty little sunglasses from the table and heads off.

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2025-09-30 15:08