Jonathan Bailey has officially been crowned the Sexiest Man Alive for 2025 by People magazine.
The English actor—known for his roles in Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers, and the upcoming Wicked: For Good—takes over the title from John Krasinski, becoming the first openly gay man to receive the honor.
“It’s a huge honor,” Bailey said during his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “Obviously I’m incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd.”
Bailey, 37, graces People’s cover alongside his dog, Benson, who joined him for the photo shoot. According to the magazine, the actor suggested diving into the icy waters off a beach south of London before wrapping up in a cable-knit sweater and requesting a glass of Bordeaux.
People’s Julie Jordan, who interviewed him for the feature, wrote that the entire room “looked flushed” after spending time with the actor.
Born and raised in rural Oxfordshire, Bailey grew up with three older sisters and credits a childhood trip to see Oliver! with sparking his love of acting.
By age seven, he was performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London. He’s since built a career that balances stage work with major TV and film projects, developing a reputation for both range and charisma.
His global breakout came in 2020 as Lord Anthony Bridgerton on Netflix’s Bridgerton, which launched him into overnight fame. “One morning my radio alarm went off with, ‘Here’s the news at 7. But just before we go, can we talk about Jonathan Bailey?’” he recalled. “I was like, ‘Where is my journal? Is this real?’ It was wild.”
Bailey later earned an Emmy nomination for his performance as a closeted congressional aide in Showtime’s Fellow Travelers, and this year, he stars as Prince Fiyero in Wicked: For Good, which hits theaters November 21. He also appeared in Jurassic World: Rebirth.
Though People’s Sexiest Man Alive title is unpaid, Executive Director Andrea Lavinthal confirmed that honorees don’t pay to be featured, either.
Reflecting on his journey, Bailey said, “At various moments in my life I’ve been like, ‘I’ve got this,’ which is sometimes met by a deep spike of fear and self-doubt. We’re all sort of trying to get back to the origin, aren’t we?”
And even as the world now sees him as the Sexiest Man Alive, Bailey remains grounded. “Behind the mask of being identified as a sexy man are other truths,” he said. “My friends know the secrets.”