Jonathan Bailey has been named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2025. The announcement was made on Monday night on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” At 37, the British actor takes over the title from John Krasinski, the 2024 winner. Bailey expressed that receiving the honour is “a huge honour” and said he felt “incredibly flattered” but also called it “completely absurd.”
Bailey, best known for his role as Lord Anthony Bridgerton on Netflix’s hit series “Bridgerton,” has quickly become a global heartthrob. He recently starred as Prince Fiyero in the 2024 film “Wicked,” with the second half of the musical releasing in theatres this month. His range also includes a 2024 Emmy-nominated role in Showtime’s drama “Fellow Travellers” and a recent appearance in “Jurassic World: Rebirth.”
This year marks the 40th anniversary of people naming the Sexiest Man Alive, a tradition that began in 1985 with Mel Gibson. Bailey is notable as the first openly gay man to receive the title in its history. He said, “At the beginning of the year, I was doing Richard II—for those of you who don’t know, it’s not a comedy.” He described how his mind went ” slightly mad” with excitement after hearing the news.
Bailey’s career started young in the UK, including work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and West End theatre, before becoming famous on television and in cinema. He has been praised for his charm and versatility, becoming one of the most in-demand actors today. His fans are thrilled by his win, celebrating him as a fresh face that broadens representation and diversity in the Sexiest Man Alive tradition.
Famous previous winners include John Krasinski, Patrick Dempsey, David Beckham, Michael B. Jordan, Paul Rudd, and Chris Evans. Bailey joins this elite group as a standout star of 2025. Looking ahead, Bailey will star in the upcoming project “Wicked: For Good” and season 4 of “Bridgerton.”
Jonathan Bailey’s Sexiest Man Alive title seals his status as a global icon of charm, talent, and representation. This honour crowns a year of big career moments and signals even bigger things to come for the British actor.
