It’s official: British actor Jonathan Bailey has been crowned People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2025. The announcement was made on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday night, marking the 40th anniversary of the magazine’s iconic annual title.
“It’s an honour of a lifetime,” Bailey said with a grin. “And I want to say, Jimmy, thank you so much for turning it down so I could be here.”
When asked if he expects people to treat him differently following the win, the Bridgerton and Wicked star replied with trademark wit: “I fucking hope so.”
Bailey rose to international fame in 2020 for his role as Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix’s hit period drama Bridgerton. Since then, he has built a formidable career in film, starring as Prince Fiyero in Wicked and Dr. Henry Loomis in Jurassic World: Rebirth.
Beyond acting, Bailey has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility in entertainment. He founded The Shameless Fund, which supports grassroots LGBTQ+ organisations.
“I know the LGBT sector is under immense threat at the moment,” he said. “So it’s been amazing to meet people who have the expertise and see potential that I could have only dreamed of.”
Bailey succeeds last year’s winner, The Office and A Quiet Place star John Krasinski, joining a long list of previous honourees including Patrick Dempsey, Chris Evans, Michael B. Jordan, George Clooney and Harrison Ford.
Mel Gibson was the magazine’s first Sexiest Man Alive in 1985, a tradition that has since become one of pop culture’s most enduring — and debated — annual rituals.
