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Jonathan Bailey likes to keep details of his love life under wraps. Bailey’s claim to fame came when the first season of Bridgerton premiered via Netflix in December 2020 and fans were introduced to his character, Anthony Bridgerton. When the second season aired in March 2022, Bailey was front and center as his character’s love story was the focal point of each episode. As his name became more recognizable, questions about Bailey’s love life started to rise. Initially, however, Bailey didn’t reveal that he was a gay man. “The most conservative conversations I’ve had about me being honest about my sexuality in this day and age have come from gay men in the industry,” he admitted during an interview with Attitude magazine in December 2020, revealing that he was told not to come out publicly. “This was at a stage where perhaps I was coming to terms with my own sexuality, I hadn’t necessarily hidden it. … But I’ve never been not honest about it. It’s just there had never been a need to talk about it.” However, Bailey has since discussed his sexuality — and therefore, his love life — on his own terms. Keep scrolling to read his most honest quotes: Hiding His Sexuality “I thought that in order to be happy I needed to be straight,” Bailey shared in the GQ interview. “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.” His Feelings About Love “I believe in romance and love in all forms,” he told Town & Country in April 2022. “I believe that we all have to believe. That’s what is the fundamental faith that keeps us going.” Keeping Things Out of the Public Eye “Having a private life is, for me, completely critical,” he told the Evening Standard. “I don’t know if I would be able to be as confident to speak out on other things if I felt that my whole life was up for grabs.” Other People Understood His Sexuality Before He Did “I think other people understood my sexuality before I was even aware of it,” Bailey shared in a British Vogue interview in December 2024, explaining that one time a teacher made a derogatory comment about him in front of the whole class. “I was having trouble with my work and he said, ‘Well, if you weren’t so busy being a fairy you’d understand.’” Although Bailey asked friends at a sleepover whether any of them were gay to see if they were on the “same page,” he went on to date a girl in his early 20s. “It’s interesting with the binary, where you’re perceived to be either this or that,” he shared with the outlet. “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.” He Is a Fan of Hand-Holding in Public Although he shared he was “not discussing” his current relationship status, Bailey revealed that he has “always been a confident hand-holder in relationships.” “I had a boyfriend who wasn’t experienced at holding hands in public,” he recalled to British Vogue in December 2024. “We got heckled in London. But that kind of behavior is now outweighed by the smiles you get.” He Wants to Be a Dad Someday “I can’t bring children into my lifestyle now,” he explained to British Vogue in December 2024. “I want to make sure I’m going to be present. I’m reading books on adoption. I might coparent with a woman, but I’m thinking it will be with a man.” He Doesn’t Mind Kissing His Friends At the Jurassic World Rebirth premiere, Bailey kissed his costar Scarlett Johansson on the lips, causing some chatter as she is married to Colin Jost. “I believe in being able to show love in all different ways,” Bailey told Entertainment Tonight in June 2025. “And if you can’t kiss your friends … life’s too short not to.” His Perfect Date Night “Oh God, it totally depends. I love a walk, I do love dinner, theater, films,” he shared in his People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” cover in November 2025. “It depends what number date. You know, if it’s like date 100, then like Legos, although we Brits say it singular ‘Lego,’ and pizza. Some of my best dates have been Lego dates.” His Relationship Must-Haves “Communication — and being clear,” he revealed during his People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” interview in November 2025. “Transparency is absolutely untomost, utmost, utmost. And really supporting, really cheerleading and watching someone thrive, should be a real turn-on.” Bailey revealed that his relationship “deal-breaks” were “the opposite of those” traits. “Bad communication, lack of transparency. Doesn’t like Lego,” he joked. “Actually I’ll only be with somebody who can speak three languages. Yeah, and they’ve got seven degrees and a doctorate. Otherwise they’re just not good enough.” His 1st Celebrity Crush “I’d say Prince Eric [from The Little Mermaid], but also Trini in Power Rangers,” he said in his November 2025 People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” interview. “I remember accidentally throwing two garden tools over the fence trying to be her.”
