In New York, on November 3, 2025, Jonathan Bailey, 37, is crowned Sexiest Man Alive 2025 by People, announced live on Jimmy Fallon. The actor from Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers, Wicked, and Jurassic World: Rebirth discovers two covers for the 40th edition of the title. A meticulously orchestrated event that marks a year of record visibility and questions the contemporary making of pop icons.
A worldwide announcement, two covers, and a pop symbol
Jonathan Bailey, 37 years old, has been named Sexiest Man Alive 2025 by People magazine (2025 edition). The British actor, brought to the public’s attention by Bridgerton and propelled to cinema by Wicked and then Jurassic World: Rebirth, discovered his cover during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York, on the evening of November 3, 2025 (in the night of November 3 to 4 in Europe). People unveiled two covers to mark the anniversary edition, the 40th since the title’s creation.
A coronation orchestrated in New York
The mechanics were precisely timed: teasing on People‘s social networks, televised revelation on Jimmy Fallon, online release of the portrait and visuals, followed by a media frenzy. On set, Bailey received the news with a mix of amusement and gratitude. He speaks of a tremendous honor and smiles at the absurdity of the concept: It’s completely absurd, he quips, true to his dry humor. He also confides that he only revealed the secret to Benson, his dog, a nod that now figures in the imagination of this meticulously planned promo.
A career in pictures: theater, television, cinema
Before global fame, there is the stage. Bailey grew up with the theater and attended the Royal Shakespeare Company very early. This ancient discipline still influences his acting when he moves to television and cinema. On Netflix, Bridgerton presents Lord Anthony, the elder brother. His well-crafted romance electrified season 2.
On screen, the year 2024 saw him sing and dance in Wicked, opposite Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, then take on a spectacular role in Jurassic World: Rebirth. Between the two, the actor moved audiences in Fellow Travelers, an intimate fresco on love and politics at the heart of 20th-century America. In 2025, he continues: Wicked: For Good hits theaters in the fall, and Bridgerton returns with a season 4 where his character remains pivotal.
"I feel honored and a bit incredulous," he sums up, embracing the gap between a playful title and his profession. For him, it remains a matter of work and troupe.
People, a storytelling machine celebrating 40 years of sexy
Created in 1985, the Sexiest Man Alive feature has become a media ritual. Every fall, the People editorial team selects a dominant figure in pop culture. Then, it turns them into a story with immersive photo shoots, personal anecdotes, and a nod to fans. In 2025, the apparatus is in full swing: 40th anniversary, archives brought back to the forefront, and a "passing of the torch" with previous winners.
The list recalls the diversity of profiles crowned over the years: Chris Evans (2022), Patrick Dempsey (2023), and John Krasinski (2024) are among the most recent. The title is sometimes mocked for its light tone. Yet, it continues to set the cultural agenda by opening a window each year on the zeitgeist. That of 2025 celebrates a British actor with a hybrid career, from Shakespeare on stage to blockbuster.
Representation: a step forward, without forcing the legend
Reports highlight that Jonathan Bailey is openly gay. Some headlines emphasize a possible "first" in the history of Sexiest Man Alive. Others, more cautious, simply note the fact without qualifying it. In this gray area, vigilance is required. The symbolic significance is real: an LGBTQ+ actor in the spotlight, at the heart of a mainstream setup. However, the recent history of pop distinctions demands weighing each superlative. The moment matters: the icon crafted by People here embraces a visibility long lacking for queer actors.
The media reception: a global moment
French and international sites immediately relayed the announcement, often accompanied by a career recap. The echoes gathered paint the same portrait: an actor comfortable in the romantic costume of Bridgerton, seamlessly transitioning to musical (Wicked), then to the action franchise (Jurassic World), and now bankable on both sides of the Atlantic. Social media, as always, added a layer of second-degree: scene excerpts, nods to the "naughty glasses" seen in the dinosaur promo, memes, and declarations from fellow actors.
What this coronation says about the making of stars
People’s "sexy" is not based on a public poll but on an editorial construction. It celebrates trajectories that have reached maturity: optimal availability (contracts, promo), cross-media presence (TV, cinema, streaming), good public appeal. In 2025, Bailey’s casting meets all the criteria: central role in a global series (Bridgerton), blockbusters tied to major releases, density of media appearances, active fan community.
The ritual works all the better as it narrates a pivotal year. The cover, its codes, its nods, even the presence of Benson the dog feed a story that extends beyond the magazine. In the wake, the career is given a boost: increased offers, consolidated leading roles, prestigious invitations, multiplied visibility in the Hollywood ecosystem.
The man behind the label
Behind the instant icon emerges a personality of a troupe worker. Bailey claims the rigor of RSC theater, tours, text, and cultivates a calm relationship with exposure. He says he often doubts, laughs at himself. He allows himself the whimsy of a dive into the sea before a photo shoot. Far from the display, his commitment lies in regular involvement with LGBTQ+ initiatives in recent years. Moreover, he offers a simple account of the stages of his personal development. This human dimension, which People likes to stage, finds a real echo here. Indeed, it aligns with a trajectory without shortcuts.
The effect of the list: precedent and lineage
Like any title, this one dialogues with its predecessors. John Krasinski (2024) belongs to the family of winners whose fame rests on both a cult TV role and a filmmaker career. Patrick Dempsey (2023) brings back the memory of a medical series turned phenomenon. Chris Evans (2022) embodies the age of superheroes. By placing himself just after this trilogy, Bailey imposes a continuity: a star from global streaming who crosses formats and holds the stage at the box office.
And now: the Bailey agenda
In the schedule for the coming months: the release of Wicked: For Good at the end of November 2025, where he reprises Fiyero, and the announced return of Bridgerton (season 4). In parallel, the actor continues his stage career. He recently played Richard II and keeps the field of possibilities open. Thus, he oscillates between auteur projects and mainstream entertainment.
This 2025 coronation will play its role: heightened attention from studios, invitations, covers, panel shows. But it does not exhaust the essential. The key, for Bailey, lies in a rhythm: that of an actor who progresses by stages, connects tradition to the contemporary flow, charms without giving up troupe work, and allows himself, amid the whirlwind, a form of lightness.