Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey makes history as People’s Sexiest Man Alive 2025

Dearest readers, it’s official — Bridgerton heartthrob Jonathan Bailey has been named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2025!

Jonathan Bailey has officially been crowned People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2025, becoming the first openly gay man to earn the title. The 37-year-old British actor, best known for his breakout performance in Bridgerton and his upcoming role in Wicked: For Good, called the recognition “a huge honour and completely absurd.”

Bailey’s reveal took place on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where a giant version of his People cover was unveiled on set. The actor playfully admired the photo, jokingly running his hand over his own chest hair before sitting down for a light-hearted chat with Fallon.

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In a video shared on People’s official Instagram page, Bailey confessed, “I mean, I giggle. Obviously, incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd.” He added that he had known about the honour for some time but had managed to keep it under wraps — telling only his dog, Benson. “I am honoured,” he said with a smile.

During his appearance on Fallon’s show, Bailey revealed that he had been performing Shakespeare’s Richard II when he first received the news. “For those who don’t know, it’s not a comedy,” he quipped, adding that he was deeply immersed in the sombre production when the announcement arrived and that he went “slightly mad” upon hearing it.

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He also joked that he attempted to leak the news to some friends over drinks but failed to convince anyone. “Now that it’s out there, I think I’m finally getting some respect,” he teased.

Bailey will next be seen in Wicked: For Good and will reprise his role as Anthony Bridgerton in the fourth season of Bridgerton.

Since its inception in 1985, People’s Sexiest Man Alive title has largely celebrated a traditional ideal of masculinity — rugged, straight, and quintessentially Hollywood. Bailey’s inclusion represents a welcome shift in that narrative, embracing a more inclusive and diverse idea of what it means to be attractive.

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Over the years, the honour has gone to names like Patrick Dempsey, Chris Evans, John Legend, David Beckham, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Rudd, and Michael B. Jordan. Bailey’s historic win, however, stands out as a sign of changing times — and as he told People, it’s “a celebration of inclusivity and progress.”