The 37-year-old star becomes the first openly gay artist to win the title. According to People, Bailey captivated audiences with his charm, wit, and handsome looks that are “almost unfair to others.”
The results were announced on the evening of November 5th on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
There, the actor expressed his honor in receiving the title, stating it was a “memorable moment” in his career. He also appeared on the cover of this year’s special Sexiest Man Alive issue.
Born in 1988 in Oxfordshire, England, Jonathan Bailey grew up with his parents and three older sisters. From the age of five, he nurtured the dream of becoming an actor after watching the play Oliver! with his grandmother.
At just seven years old, Bailey had the opportunity to perform with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London, England. This marked the beginning of his professional artistic journey.
Bailey gained widespread recognition in 2020 for his role as Viscount Anthony Bridgerton in the hit television series Bridgerton. Two years later, he further cemented his mark by taking on the lead role in the show’s second season.
In 2024, Bailey was nominated for an Emmy Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category for his role in Fellow Travelers.
On the big screen, Bailey made his mark as Prince Fiyero in the musical film Wicked (co-starring with singer Ariana Grande), and more recently as dinosaur expert Henry Loomis in the summer blockbuster Jurassic World Rebirth, collaborating with Scarlett Johansson.
Jonathan Bailey publicly came out as gay and is currently the first openly gay person to receive People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” title.
He is very private about his personal life: “For me, having a private life is very important. I don’t know if I would feel confident enough to share everything if I felt my personal life was threatened.”
Bailey admitted to dating in the past but did not reveal the identity of his partners. After breaking up, he maintained friendships with his exes.
Despite working in the open entertainment industry, the actor once believed that coming out about his sexual orientation was not easy. However, he now shares that living authentically is the most important thing, and he is currently single.
Beyond his acting career, Bailey actively participates in activities for the LGBTQ+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer), raising funds through the non-profit organization Shameless Fund, which he founded.
Sexiest Man Alive is a special annual issue published by People since 1985. Although the organizers do not disclose the voting method, sources indicate that the results are based on public interest and the opinions of many famous artists.
People editor Julie Jordan stated: “The winner is chosen not only based on their appearance but also on their influence and personal appeal.”
The list of past honorees includes many prominent names such as Chris Evans, Paul Rudd, Keanu Reeves, David Beckham, The Rock, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, George Clooney, and Richard Gere. Last year, the title went to actor John Krasinski.
