Hollywood and Netflix fans have a new reason to swoon! British actor Jonathan Bailey has been named People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” for 2025. Sharing the news on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ on Monday, Bailey called the honour both flattering and “absolutely absurd.”
Speaking with Jimmy Fallon, Jonathan Bailey recalled the moment he first learned about the title earlier this year. At the time, he was performing in a production of Shakespeare’s ‘Richard II’.
“The only thing madder than doing ‘Richard II’ was to be invited into this,” he joked. “I’m thrilled People Magazine chose someone who can really cherish the value of a sexy man,” he added.
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Bailey, who began his acting journey at just 7 years old with London’s Royal Shakespeare Company, has always shown a flair for the stage and screen alike. While his early TV work included the critically acclaimed murder mystery ‘Broadchurch’, it was his role as Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ that truly made him a household name.
Fans also know him from shows like ‘Fellow Travelers’ and ‘Heartstopper’, and recently, he has appeared in big productions such as ‘Wicked’ and ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’.
In an interview with People, Bailey admitted the award is both exciting and surreal. “It’s a huge honour. Obviously, I’m incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd,” he said.
He also added a humorous touch about how his close friends might react. “They’ll be furious that I haven’t told them sooner. And then they’ll squeal with delight. They’ve seen me grow up. Behind the mask of being identified as a sexy man are other truths they know, secrets they’ve witnessed,” Bailey shared with a grin.