Jonathan Bailey expressed his excitement after being named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, saying he was ‘thrilled’ to be the first openly gay man to receive the title, in 2025.
On Monday night’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, it was announced that the 37-year-old star of Wicked had been given the title, and the actor described it as ‘the honor of a lifetime’.
Jonathan couldn’t hide his amusement, admitting he was still laughing, but he quickly recognized the significance of the moment: People magazine had chosen an openly gay man as their Sexiest Man Alive for the very first time.
He joked that he was excited People magazine was recognizing someone who truly appreciates a handsome man, and planned to enjoy the honor in 2025.
This news follows a very successful year for the British actor, who recently appeared with Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World Rebirth and will soon star in the eagerly awaited sequel, Wicked: For Good.
Jonathan portrays Prince Fiyero in the movie adaptations of the musical, and his character shares a romantic connection with both Glinda, played by Ariana Grande, and Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo.
He gained international recognition for his role as Anthony Bridgerton, also known as Lord Bridgerton, in the hit Netflix series Bridgerton.
He started his acting career much earlier than his recent streaming series work, making his first on-screen appearance in 1997 at the age of nine in the British TV show, Bramwell.
Jonathan began his career with small roles in TV shows like The Bill and Lewis. He gained wider recognition starring alongside David Tennant and Olivia Colman in the popular British crime drama Broadchurch, which aired on ITV from 2013 to 2017 over three seasons.
Between 2014 and 2017, he was a prominent cast member in the mockumentary sitcom W1A. He also appeared in the comedy series Crashing, which was created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Jonathan made his film debut in 2007 with a role in the comedy St Trinian’s, and also appeared in Permanent Vacation and Elizabeth: The Golden Age that year.
He’s gained a dedicated following and received excellent reviews for his work, including a 2019 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his performance in Company.
He previously won a Critics’ Choice Television Award for his supporting role in the movie/miniseries, Fellow Travellers, last year.
John Krasinski was recently given the title of Sexiest Man Alive, following Patrick Dempsey (2023), Chris Evans (2022), and Paul Rudd (2021).
Previous recipients of this honor include Michael B. Jordan (2020), John Legend (2019), Idris Elba (2018), Blake Shelton (2017), Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (2016), David Beckham (2015), Chris Hemsworth (2014), Adam Levine (2013), Channing Tatum (2012), Bradley Cooper (2011), and Ryan Reynolds (2010).
From 2000 to 2009, several popular actors received prominent awards, including Brad Pitt (2000), Pierce Brosnan (2001), Ben Affleck (2002), Johnny Depp (2003), Jude Law (2004), Matthew McConaughey (2005), George Clooney (2006), Matt Damon (2007), Hugh Jackman (2008), and Johnny Depp again in 2009.
Throughout the 1990s, several popular actors graced the cover of the magazine, including Tom Cruise in 1990, Nick Nolte in 1992, Brad Pitt in 1995, Denzel Washington in 1996, George Clooney in 1997, Harrison Ford in 1998, and Richard Gere in 1999. The magazine also featured Patrick Swayze, who sadly passed away, on the cover in 1991.
No one was named the Sexiest Person Alive in 1994. The year before, in 1993, Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford, who were a couple at the time, received the title.
The ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ title was first awarded in the 1980s. Sean Connery received the honor in 1989, followed by John F. Kennedy Jr. in 1988, Harry Hamlin in 1987, and Mark Harmon in 1986.
In February 1985, People Magazine introduced its inaugural “Sexiest Man Alive” title, bestowing the honor on a 29-year-old Mel Gibson.
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2025-11-05 01:34