Copyright Men's Journal
Jonathan Bailey, People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive, is very private about who he is dating, but he’s opened up about relationships in the past and has been linked to one possible partner. He also spoke about whether he wants kids in the future. Bailey is the first gay actor to receive People’s honor. The Briderton and Wicked star has also shared thoughts on his sexuality. He is “proudly gay,” according to Marie Claire. He wasn’t always as open about that. “Of course I thought that in order to be happy I needed to be straight,” he told GQ in 2022. “I reached a point where I thought, (expletive) 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,” he explained to GQ. Jonathan Bailey Has Appeared in Public With a Possible Boyfriend, But Not Since 2019. His Current Partner Is Unknown Bailey has appeared in public with a possible boyfriend before, but that was in 2019. His partner in 2025 is not currently known. In 2023, he told The UK Standard that he had a boyfriend but didn’t name him. He described his partner then as “a lovely man”, adding, “It’s not secret, but it’s private. Having a private life is, for me, completely critical. 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.” According to The Mirror, Bailey was linked to an advertising director named James Ellis when he kissed him before accepting an honor at the 2019 Olivier Awards. They were spotted together again in 2021 but have never confirmed their relationship, The Mirror reported. He opened up about sexuality in his speech at that award show, the Mirror reported, telling the audience, “You know, at a time where acknowledging the very existence of LGBTQ people in our schools is being questioned, we have been able to, as a company, show a lovely and celebratory snapshot of gay love. That LGBTQ people really aren’t that different.” Bailey told The Standard that he feels it’s important to have gay actors play certain roles. “I still 100 percent stand by the fact that I think all actors should be able to do everything,” he told the Standard. “But to have gay actors chronicling the oppression and the trauma of it, I think it only adds to the experience. It’s exciting that people welcome it.” He has opened up about being threatened. In the United Kingdom, “We’re not looking after queer people, in terms of allowing them into the country. Because that is the reality; people’s lives are literally at risk,” Bailey told The Standard. Jonathan Bailey Said He Might Co-Parent Kids Someday But Isn’t Sure With Whom Bailey doesn’t currently have kids, but he is open to the idea in the future. “Yes, it’s such a privilege for a man,” he told British Vogue in January of 2025. “But I can’t bring children into my lifestyle now,” he continued. “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.”
