Fans at a Sydney cinema were left utterly astonished on Sunday night when Hollywood actor Jonathan Bailey made a completely unanticipated appearance on stage.
A Star-Studded Surprise
The British star, 37, casually walked onto the stage at the IMAX Darling Harbour during a special screening of the highly anticipated sequel, Wicked: For Good. The packed audience was completely caught off-guard by the impromptu visit from the film's leading man.
Radio host Kent 'Smallzy' Small had warmed up the crowd, teasing a mystery guest by announcing, "You wouldn't believe who I found just hanging outside the cinema. Could it be one of the stars of Wicked: For Good?" Moments later, he revealed the special guest, sending the room into a frenzy as Bailey emerged, beaming and waving to the cheering fans.
Behind the Scenes in the 'Real Land of Oz'
Later sharing footage on Instagram, Bailey revealed he had touched down in Australia only hours earlier. He couldn't resist returning to what he cheekily referred to as 'the real land of Oz'.
"I've just landed in Oz. I've missed it so much so I wanted to return to the real land of Oz, which is where we started the press tour for the first film last year," he explained in a video filmed just before taking the stage. "And I thought, why not end the press tour for Wicked: For Good back where it started?"
The actor also shared that his family was visiting Australia and that he had already surprised them at a separate screening before heading to the IMAX, which he jokingly noted was "the fourth biggest screen in the Southern Hemisphere."
A Landmark Year for the Leading Man
This exciting appearance comes during a massive year for Bailey, who was recently crowned People magazine's 2025 Sexiest Man Alive. He discovered the news while appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he humorously expressed hope that the title might change how people treat him.
Bailey shot to global fame after playing Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix's period drama Bridgerton in 2020. He has since successfully transitioned to blockbuster films, starring as Prince Fiyero opposite Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked, and is set to appear as Dr Henry Loomis in the upcoming Jurassic World: Rebirth.
