Jonathan Stuart Bailey, born on 25 April 1988, is an English actor who has captivated audiences across stage and screen with his remarkable versatility in dramatic, comedic, and musical roles. Rising from a child performer in the West End to a globally recognized star, Bailey has earned critical acclaim and a devoted fan base, with his accolades including a Laurence Olivier Award and a Critics' Choice Television Award, alongside nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and four Actor Awards. In 2025, he was named People's Sexiest Man Alive, and Time magazine included him in their Time 100 Next list as one of the world's most influential artists.
Bailey began his career as a child actor, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company before making his West End debut at the age of eight in the iconic musical Les Misérables as Gavroche. He continued to hone his craft on stage, starring in contemporary plays such as The York Realist in 2018 and Cock in 2022, as well as classical works like Othello in 2013 and Richard II in 2025. His musical theatre prowess shone in the London revival of The Last Five Years in 2016 and the gender-swapped West End revival of Company, for which he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2019.
On screen, Bailey first gained attention with roles in the action-adventure series Leonardo from 2011 to 2012 and the musical-comedy Groove High from 2012 to 2013. He then became known for his work in the crime drama Broadchurch from 2013 to 2015 and the comedy series Crashing in 2016. However, it was his portrayal of Anthony Bridgerton in the Regency romance series Bridgerton from 2020 onward that catapulted him to international fame, making him a household name. He further demonstrated his dramatic range as Tim Laughlin in the political miniseries Fellow Travelers in 2023, a performance that earned him a Critics' Choice Television Award and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Bailey's film career has also flourished, most notably with his role as Fiyero Tigelaar, also known as the Scarecrow, in the musical fantasy film Wicked in 2024, for which he received an Actor Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role. He reprised this role in the sequel Wicked: For Good in 2025 and starred in the science fiction thriller Jurassic World Rebirth the same year. Outside of acting, Bailey is deeply committed to philanthropy, focusing on supporting the queer community. In 2024, he founded the LGBTQ+ charity The Shameless Fund, further cementing his legacy as both a talented performer and a dedicated advocate.