Jonathan Bailey is PEOPLE’s 2025 Sexiest Man Alive and if you’ve seen, oh, even one photo of him in the past six months, you know why he had to be this year’s pick.
The U.K. native rose to prominence playing the eldest boy in Bridgerton and has been on a steady climb since. He showed his romantic side in season 2 of the hit Netflix show, before he took his dramatic prowess to Prime Video’s Fellow Travelers. Come Nov. 21, he returns to the big screen as Fiyero in Wicked: For Good, bringing back that playful charm and sweet vulnerability.
Off-screen, Bailey has also given us plenty of moments to fawn over — from the way he affectionately handles his costars, to his sophisticated (often daring) sense of style on the carpet, his unbridled humor in interviews, to the way he just … is. Enough talking, let’s get to the photos.
Oh, Hello
Jonathan Bailey.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty
Let’s overlook the sideburns and stay focused on that smolder.
Bridgerton Babe
Jonathan Bailey.
Netflix
Promise, we mainly watch Bridgerton for the plot…
Big Brother Duties
Phoebe Dynevor and Jonathan Bailey.
Neil Rasmus/Shutterstock
We can’t figure out what’s more amazing: the chiseled arms, the perfectly crisp white ensemble or the hand-holding of his on-screen little sister, Phoebe Dynevor.
A Man at Work
Jonathan Bailey.
Jonathan Bailey/Instagram
Being in a makeup chair for hours isn’t fun for a lot of actors. For Jonathan Bailey, it’s a chance to showcase just what a cutie patootie he can be.
Watch This Space
Jonathan Bailey.
Jacopo Raule/Getty
If this pose could talk, it would say, “I’m sexy and I know it.”
Bloomin’ Handsome
Jonathan Bailey.
Aliah Anderson/Getty
A man who literally brings flowers to the table, what’s not to like? For the 2024 Met Gala, Bailey rocked a custom Loewe suit, featuring hard-to-miss floral embellishments.
Cleaning Up Nice
Jonathan Bailey.
Raymond Hall/GC Images
Look good, feel good. The actor was snapped straightening his jacket as he headed into the New York premiere of Jurassic World: Rebirth.
Shhh…
Jonathan Bailey.
Cindy Ord/WireImage
So much to say, but a meeting with HR isn’t something we need right now.
Quad City
Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
Don Arnold/WireImage
It can be hard to stand out when Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are your cast mates, but Jonathan (and his commitment to leg day) managed to steal the show at the Sydney premiere of Wicked last year.
See You Smile
Jonathan Bailey and Matt Bomer.
Ben Mark Holzberg/SHOWTIME
Much like his sideburns in Bridgerton, the mustache Jonathan rocks in Fellow Travelers only adds to the charm (even if we’re not committed to it for the long haul).
Cream of the Crop
Jonathan Bailey.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
Okay, we’re calling it: White is Jonathan Bailey’s best color!
Doing Good While Looking Good
Jonathan Bailey.
Jonathan Bailey/Instagram
Back in 2024, Bailey partook in the Hackney Half Marathon, benefitting LGBT+ organization Just Like Us (of which he is a patron). Breaking a sweat for a good cause — how can you not love this guy?
He’s Got that Sparkle
Jonathan Bailey.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
For the Wicked premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in California, Jonathan nodded to the Wizard of Oz in his sparkling silver top, white pants and bright red shoes … and created fashion magic as only he can.
Minor Adjustments
Jonathan Bailey.
Joe Maher/Getty
Ahh, the “slutty little glasses” heard around the world…
Happy Camper
Jonathan Bailey.
Neil Mockford/FilmMagic
… and the color-blocked denim ensemble that came with them (and changed lives).
Here’s Looking at You
Jonathan Bailey.
Han Myung-Gu/WireImage
Another reason to love him? He is clearly an active listener. Jonathan was snapped intently focusing as he promoted Jurassic World Rebirth in Seoul.
Man of the Hour
Jonathan Bailey.
Mike Marsland/WireImage
This, dear reader, is what the kids today call aura.
BONUS: No Shame in His Game
The comments under this video posted on his charity, The Shameless Fund’s Instagram page, were turned off … with good reason.
