Jonathan Bailey Is The Sexiest Man Alive And Knows How To Cherish It
DNA called it first a few years ago, thank you very much, but now People has officially named Jonathan Bailey their Sexiest Man Alive for 2025, unveiling the cover on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He called it “the honour of a lifetime” and admitted he was “still giggling” about it.
Why this matters now.
It is the first time the title has gone to an openly gay man, a milestone that lands squarely in mainstream pop culture and signals broader ideas of who gets to be called sexy. Entertainment outlets and People’s own coverage noted the historic first.
What he said on the night.
Bailey joked that he was “thrilled that People magazine has invited someone in, to bestow this honour on someone who can really cherish the value of a sexy man.” The line hit like a wink to those who have waited for this kind of recognition.
The year that set him up.
The 37-year-old broke big on screen as Lord Anthony in Bridgerton, earned awards buzz with Fellow Travelers, and stepped into blockbuster territory with Jurassic World Rebirth earlier this year. He also brought princely charm to Fiyero in Wicked and returns in the sequel Wicked: For Good later this month.
What is next on the calendar.
Wicked: For Good rolls into cinemas on 21 November 2025, with Bailey back as Fiyero alongside Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The film premiered earlier this week in São Paulo, keeping the hype humming toward opening day.
So what changes from here.
Will this open doors for more openly queer leads to headline big studio romances or franchise films? It should. Bailey himself framed the moment with pride and a grin, and culture tends to follow when charisma meets timing.
