Copyright Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The rest of the world is finally acknowledging what Jonathan Bailey fans have known all along – he really is bringing the heat. On Monday, People announced that the 37-year-old British actor had been named this year’s Sexiest Man Alive, taking the mantle from 2024’s winner, John Krasinski. It’s not hard to see why the magazine went with Bailey for this year’s coveted honor. His classic good looks, undeniable charm, effortless style, and acting chops all come together to create the perfect package. Want proof? Here are five times that Bailey completely stole the show, both on screen and off. As a besotted Anthony Bridgerton in ‘Bridgerton’ Bridgerton was far from Bailey’s first role – he’d already earned praise for his appearances in shows like Broadchurch and Crashing, as well as his work on the stage. But his turn as the Viscount Bridgerton in Netflix’s steamy romance vaulted him to an entirely new level of fame. Anthony’s romance with Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) takes center stage in season 2 and provided plenty of swoonworthy moments, including one where he nearly has a panic attack when she’s almost stung by a bee. As a closeted gay man in Showtime’s ‘Fellow Travelers’ Bailey made history with his Sexiest Man Alive win, becoming the first openly gay man to get the title. It’s a moment that would have been inconceivable to Tim, the closeted Congressional staffer he played in Showtime’s 2023 miniseries Fellow Travelers. Tim falls for the older and more worldly Hawk (Matt Bomer) while both are working in Washington, D.C., during the height of the McCarthy era. The show traces their passionate and heartbreaking romance over the ensuing decades, while also offering a glimpse into a tumultuous time in LGTBQ history. Bailey was nominated for an Emmy for his work on the show. In a Loewe suit at the 2024 Met Gala Bailey never misses with his red carpet looks, whether it’s nodding to the tin man with a silvery shirt on the Wicked red carpet or paying tribute to famous TV paleontologist Ross Geller at the Jurassic World: Rebirth premiere. But one of his best style moments came at the 2024 Met Gala, when he donned a custom suit by Loewe, with black trousers and a white double-breasted jacket with black lapels. Rather than a traditional tie, he wore a giant metal flower at his neck, a reference to the night’s dress code, “The Garden of Time.” In an iconic pair of ‘slutty little glasses’ in ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ What dinosaurs? Bailey proved he could pull off big-screen action in 2025’s Jurassic World: Rebirth, where he played paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis. While the dinos wreaked havoc in the movie, Bailey still managed to steal the show with his character’s “slutty little glasses,” which became the summer’s hottest accessory. “I’m thrilled that people are, they’re having a hormonal explosion linked to optical supports,” Bailey told Entertainment Tonight. “But I think, yeah, glasses can go a long way, so let’s have the summer of slutty little glasses.” Every moment on the ‘Wicked’ press tour Last year, Bailey did the rounds during the Wicked press tour, turning his charm up to 11 as he talked up the movie musical with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. (He plays Prince Fiyero in the hit film.) Whether it was cracking up with Jeff Goldblum during a discussion of the term “zaddy,” donning a pair of short shorts for a photo call, or playing Wicked charades with his co-stars, Bailey made it clear he has what it takes to be a star. And more viral Wicked moments are likely on the horizon. Wicked: For Good opens later in November, which means we should be seeing a lot more of Bailey in the coming weeks.
