British actor Jonathan Bailey has bravely opened up about the profound fear and isolation he experienced while growing up as a gay teenager in school. The 37-year-old star, recently crowned People's Sexiest Man Alive, shared these deeply personal reflections during an interview promoting his upcoming role in the film adaptation of Wicked.
Childhood Struggles and School Bullying
Bailey revealed that his school years were marked by intense emotional turmoil. "I felt scared and I felt alone and I felt entirely limited at various points in my life," the actor confessed to Sky News. He described realizing from an early age that his identity wasn't safe to express openly, stating: "It became clear quite early on that something that was very specific and clear to me about who I was, it wasn't safe and it wasn't celebrated."
The Bridgerton star detailed how this environment led to significant mental health challenges, including experiences with bullying, anxiety, and depression during his formative years. Bailey emphasised the importance of creating safe spaces for young people to express their authentic selves, noting that such environments benefit everyone in educational settings.
Career Breakthroughs and Personal Triumphs
Despite his early struggles, Bailey's career has flourished spectacularly. He recently discovered he'd been voted People's Sexiest Man Alive during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, an honour he described as "the honour of a lifetime." The actor wryly commented on the significance of this recognition in 2025, expressing his thrill that "People magazine have invited someone in, to bestow this honour on someone who can really cherish the value of a sexy man."
Bailey plays Prince Fiyero in the highly anticipated Wicked movie, serving as the love interest for both Ariana Grande's Glinda and Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba. Remarkably, he admitted that he never believed he'd land such significant roles due to his sexuality, also fearing his lack of drama school training would prevent him from performing Shakespeare.
From Early Beginnings to International Stardom
The actor's journey to fame began remarkably early, with his first screen appearance coming in 1997 at just nine years old in the British television series Bramwell. After various roles in procedurals including The Bill and Lewis, Bailey gained recognition through his performance in ITV's critically acclaimed crime drama Broadchurch, starring alongside David Tennant and Olivia Colman between 2013 and 2017.
His career continued to build momentum with roles in Phoebe Waller-Bridge's comedy Crashing and the mockumentary sitcom W1A between 2014 and 2017. Film appearances included 2007's St Trinian's, Permanent Vacation, and Elizabeth: The Golden Age.
Bailey's breakthrough came with his portrayal of Anthony, Lord Bridgerton, in Netflix's global phenomenon Bridgerton, which catapulted him to international fame. More recently, he starred alongside Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World Rebirth, demonstrating his versatility across genres.
The actor's talent has earned him both critical acclaim and prestigious awards, including a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2019 for his performance in Company. Last year, he won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries for Fellow Travelers.
Through his candid revelations about his childhood struggles, Jonathan Bailey continues to inspire LGBTQ+ youth while establishing himself as one of Britain's most accomplished and respected acting talents.
