British Actors You Should Know: Jonathan Bailey
Emerging leading man Jonathan Bailey has become nearly inescapable in recent years, with roles in beloved series from Broadchurch to Bridgerton. He's so charming that he could create chemistry with a brick wall; instead, he has chosen to defy the limits and stereotypes that still remain in the TV industry for openly gay actors. He has used his platform to speak about issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community and has created a charity, The Shameless Fund, that raises money to support LGBTQ+ nonprofits and combat anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
Bailey began his stage career when he was still in primary school, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company as Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol and as lovable street urchin Gavroche in Les Miserables before the age of ten. As his stage career grew, so did his on-screen presence. Since transitioning from child actor to adult roles, he earned leading man status in several series for young audiences, including as a teenage Leonardo da Vinci in Leonardo and as a university freshman in the BBC’s Off the Hook.
Though best known in the US for his television roles, Bailey has maintained his theater roots. On top of his acting chops, Bailey has a gorgeous voice and formal ballet training, making him a genuine triple threat. He’s had recent roles in stage musicals like American Psycho, The Last Five Years, and Company, to name just a few. Bailey is about to merge his stage and screen careers with his role as dashing prince Fiyero in the Wicked movie. With the first half of Wicked on the horizon, we’re revisiting some of the most memorable roles of his career so far.
