Something significant has changed for Jonathan Bailey, the star of Wicked, as he has been named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive for 2025. The announcement was made on Monday night during an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Bailey, who is 37 years old, succeeds John Krasinski, the 2024 recipient known for his roles in The Office and Jack Ryan. Expressing his feelings about the recognition, Bailey stated, "It's a huge honor. Obviously, I'm incredibly flattered. And it's completely absurd."
In 2024, Bailey charmed audiences as Prince Fiyero in the cinematic adaptation of Wicked. In this popular movie musical, he encourages his fellow students to embrace superficiality. The second part of the film's release is set for November 21.
Besides his role in Wicked, Bailey captivated viewers as Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix's Bridgerton. His outstanding performance earned him a 2024 Emmy nomination for his role in the Showtime series Fellow Travelers. More recently, he appeared in Jurassic World Rebirth, which premiered in July.
Bailey's passion for acting ignited at a young age when his grandmother took him to see a production of the musical Oliver! at just five years old. Within two years, he had already fulfilled his dream by performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Since then, he has amassed a wealth of stage credits, including a notable performance in Richard II in London earlier this year.
As an openly gay actor, Bailey has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. He established the Shameless Fund to support various LGBTQ+ organizations. Speaking on the challenges faced by the community, Bailey stated, "I know the LGBT sector is under immense threat at the moment. So it's been amazing to meet people who have the expertise and see potential that I could have only dreamed of."
The title of Sexiest Man Alive has a storied history, first awarded to Mel Gibson in 1985. Numerous celebrated figures have received the accolade over the years, including Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John F. Kennedy Jr., David Beckham, Michael B. Jordan, John Legend, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Rudd, Pierce Brosnan, and Patrick Dempsey.
Bailey will grace the cover of People magazine's upcoming edition, set for release on Friday. While he had to maintain secrecy regarding the selection, he humorously admitted that he revealed the news to his dog, Benson, who will also make an appearance in the magazine.
