Jonathan Bailey’s Crown Moment

From Regency London to Hollywood royalty, Bridgerton and Wicked star Jonathan Bailey has officially been crowned People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2025. The announcement came live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where Bailey accepted the honor with his trademark charm and humor.

Bailey, 37, succeeds The Office alum John Krasinski, last year’s recipient. During the reveal, Fallon presented two covers: one featuring Bailey standing chest-deep in the ocean, and another of him holding his beloved dog, Benson — a nod to the actor’s grounded, good-humored personality.

Soaring to international stardom as Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix’s globally adored period drama Bridgerton, Jonathan Bailey has firmly established himself as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents. In 2024, he captivated audiences as Prince Fiyero in the fantasy musical blockbuster Wicked and is set to return in its highly anticipated sequel, Wicked: For Good, premiering this November. The versatile actor also scored an Emmy nomination for his gripping performance in Fellow Travelers and dominated the box office with his leading role in Jurassic World: Rebirth during the summer of 2025.

Reflecting on his new title, Bailey told People:

“It’s a huge honour... Obviously, I’m incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd.”

The British actor, who knew he wanted to perform from the age of five, has long been an advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility in entertainment. As the first openly gay actor to receive the title, Bailey’s win represents both a personal milestone and a symbolic moment for inclusivity. Through his charitable venture, The Shameless Fund, he continues to support LGBTQ+ organizations across the UK.

Bailey’s Wicked costars celebrated the announcement online, with Cynthia Erivo calling the title “long overdue.” Fans, too, flooded social media with praise, calling Bailey a “people’s prince” and applauding People magazine for “finally getting it right.”

After forty years of the Sexiest Man Alive tradition, it seems the world has reached rare consensus — Jonathan Bailey isn’t just the sexiest man alive, but one whose heart matches the hype.