- By Sidhi Agarwall
- Tue, 04 Nov 2025 04:14 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
On Tuesday morning, People Magazine revealed 37-year-old English actor Jonathan Bailey as their Sexiest Man Alive 2025 for the first time. What makes his win especially meaningful is that he is the first openly gay man to receive this title. The magazine featured him on two striking covers, one showing him emerging from the ocean and another holding a dog while smiling confidently. People described Jonathan as charming, witty, and almost unfairly handsome, while also pointing out that he is still adjusting to the newfound attention this honour has brought him.
Meanwhile, before the official announcement, Jonathan was already among the top favourites to win the title. Sportsbook Review even listed him as third in the rankings, with 11% odds of winning. The frontrunner was Pedro Pascal with a 38% chance, followed by Jeremy Allen White with 15%. Other names in the race included Glen Powell, Jason Kelce, Henry Cavill, Shawn Mendes, Harry Styles, Jacob Elordi, and Sterling K. Brown. Now that Jonathan has been crowned, he joins a long line of previous honourees such as Chris Evans, Dwayne Johnson, Patrick Dempsey, Michael B. Jordan and David Beckham, all of whom have held this title in earlier years.
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Who Is Jonathan Bailey?
Jonathan Bailey began his career on stage before making a name for himself on the small screen. He first gained recognition through the crime drama Broadchurch in 2013. His breakthrough came with Bridgerton, in which audiences quickly fell in love with his portrayal of Lord Anthony Bridgerton. He also starred in the Showtime series Fellow Travelers and has recently stepped into major blockbuster films, including Wicked and Jurassic World Rebirth. Jonathan came out privately in his early twenties and later publicly in 2018. He has explained that representation matters deeply to him, and if his visibility can help young people feel more accepted, then he considers that a wonderful achievement.
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On the other hand, to celebrate, Jonathan appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where a giant version of his People Magazine cover was displayed. He joked about the whole experience, saying he felt flattered, amused, and slightly overwhelmed. He revealed that he knew about the title in advance but only told his dog Benson. He even confessed that he went a bit “mad” while trying to keep it a secret during rehearsals for his serious Shakespeare production Richard II. Now that the news is out, he laughs that his friends suddenly treat him with more respect. Fans can look forward to seeing him again soon in Bridgerton Season 4 and in Wicked: For Good, as his remarkable career continues to shine.
