Jonathan Bailey voiced his elation at being named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, as he declared he was ‘thrilled’ that in 2025, the honour had finally gone to an openly gay man for the first time.
The news that the Wicked star, 37, had received the title was revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday night, with the actor admitting it was ‘the honour of a lifetime’.
Unable to hide his disbelief, Jonathan confessed he was ‘still giggling’, but paused to acknowledge how momentous the occasion was, as it marked the first time People had crowned an openly gay star as their Sexiest Man.
He quipped: ‘In 2025, I’m sort of thrilled that People magazine have invited someone in, to bestow this honour on someone who can really cherish the value of a sexy man.’
It comes off the heels of a massive year for the British star, after starring alongside Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World Rebirth and later this year will be seen in the highly-anticipated sequel, Wicked: For Good.
Jonathan plays Prince Fiyero in the musical films, the love-interest to both Ariana Grande’s character Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba.
Jonathan Bailey voiced his elation at being named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, as he declared he was ‘thrilled’ that in 2025, the honour had finally gone to an openly gay man for the first time
The news that the Wicked star, 37, had received the title was revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday night, with the actor admitting it was ‘the honour of a lifetime’ (seen)
Unable to hide his disbelief, Jonathan confessed he was ‘still giggling’, but paused to acknowledge how momentous the occasion was, as it marked the first time People had crowned an openly gay star as their Sexiest Man
He is also known for starring as Anthony, also known as Lord Bridgerton, in popular Netflix romance series Bridgerton, which brought him to global fame.
But his career in television and film began long before his work on the streaming series, first appearing on screen in 1997 at just nine years old when he starred in the British television series, Bramwell.
After bit parts in various procedurals, including The Bill and Lewis, Jonathan starred alongside David Tennant and Olivia Colman in the British crime drama Broadchurch, which ran on ITV for three series between 2013 and 2017.
He also had featured heavily in the mockumentary sitcom W1A between 2014 and 2017, as well as the comedy, Crashing, created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
On the big screen, Jonathan appeared in the 2007 comedy film St Trinian’s, followed by Permanent Vacation and Elizabeth: The Golden Age, that same year.
And his performances have won him both fans and high critical praise, winning a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2019 for his performance in the musical Company.
While last year, he won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries for Fellow Travelers.
Last year, John Krasinski was named as the Sexiest Man Alive, preceded by Patrick Dempsey in 2023, Chris Evans in 2022 and Paul Rudd in 2021.
He quipped: ‘In 2025, I’m sort of thrilled that People magazine have invited someone in, to bestow this honour on someone who can really cherish the value of a sexy man’
Jonathan plays Prince Fiyero in the musical films, the love-interest to both Ariana Grande’s character Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba (seen)
It comes off the heels of a massive year for the British star, after starring alongside Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World Rebirth and later this year will be seen in the highly-anticipated sequel, Wicked: For Good
He is also known for starring as Anthony, also known as Lord Bridgerton, in popular Netflix romance series Bridgerton, which brought him to global fame (seen)
While last year, he won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries for Fellow Travelers (pictured)
Other past winners include Michael B Jordan (2020), John Legend (2019), Idris Elba (2018), Blake Shelton (2017), Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (2016), David Beckham (2015), Chris Hemsworth (2014), Adam Levine (2013), Channing Tatum (2012), Bradley Cooper (2011) and Ryan Reynolds (2010).
The earlier decade in the 2000s brought forward wins by Johnny Depp (2009), Hugh Jackman (2008), Matt Damon (2007), George Clooney (2006), Matthew McConaughey (2005), Jude Law (2004), Johnny Depp (2003), Ben Affleck (2002), Pierce Brosnan (2001) and Brad Pitt (2000).
The 1990s brought covers for Richard Gere (1999), Harrison Ford (1998), George Clooney (1997), Denzel Washington (1996), Brad Pitt (1995), Nick Nolte (1992), the late Patrick Swayze (1991) and Tom Cruise (1990).
There was no winner named in 1994 and then-couple Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford was named the Sexiest Couple Alive in 1993.
The first decade of the annual honour, the 1980s, saw the Sexiest Man Alive named as the late Sean Connery in 1989, the late John F Kennedy, Jr in 1988, Harry Hamlin in 1987, and Mark Harmon in 1986.
People Magazine named its first Sexiest Man Alive in February 1985 when it picked then 29-year-old Mel Gibson for the honour.
