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Jonathan Bailey’s Dating History Is 1 of Hollywood’s Best Kept Secrets—But We’ve Connected the Dots

He's 2025's Sexiest Man Alive for a reason!

By Lizzie Lanuza

Lizzie Lanuza

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November 19, 2025 5:00 pm

Jonathan Bailey at the "Wicked: For Good" New York Premiere held at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on November 17, 2025 in New York, New York. — Jon Nacion for Penske Media

Jonathan Bailey is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors. The leading man, who stars as Fiyero in Wicked, alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, rose to fame for his role as Anthony Bridgerton in the romance series Bridgerton. The first season of that show saw him in a supporting role, with Bailey taking center stage in Season 2, and going back to a supporting role in Season 3.

But, after Bridgerton, with Bailey already a famous enough actor, he went on to do Fellow Travelers. The TV miniseries would see Bailey nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie at the Primetime Emmy Awards. He also had a small role on the Netflix show Heartstopper and is now set to appear as the main love interest in both Wicked Part 1 and Wicked Part 2.

Bailey, who is openly gay, has talked about the experience of being out in Hollywood, telling GQ in 2022 that another actor told him that there are “two things we don’t want to know: if you’re an alcoholic or if you’re gay.” The actor, however, hasn’t kept his identity private, explaining his reasoning to the magazine.

“All it takes is for one of those people in that position of power to say that, and it ripples through,” Bailey said. “So, yeah, of course I thought that. Of course, I thought that in order to be happy, I needed to be straight…I reached a point where I thought, ‘Fuck this.’ I’d much prefer to hold my boyfriend’s hand in public or be able to put my own face picture on Tinder and not be so concerned about that than getting a part.”

As for his first crushes in his life, he opened up to People for their 2025 Sexiest Man Alive feature, “I think I’d say Prince Eric [from The Little Mermaid]. But I’d also say, Trini in Power Rangers was huge,” he recalled. “And I remember accidentally throwing two garden utensils over the fence trying to be her. Who else? Anita from Heartbreak High. That’s it.”

Considering all of that, who is Jonathan Bailey dating? Does he have a boyfriend?

Jonathan Bailey’s Boyfriend and Dating History

Mystery Boyfriend

Bailey does indeed have a boyfriend, it’s just that he’s kept his relationship private—in a way that’s pretty uncommon in Hollywood. In December 2023, he told the Evening Standard that he was dating a “lovely man” and that’s literally all we know.

“It’s not secret, but it’s private,” Bailey explained. “Having a private life is, for me, completely critical. I don’t know if I would be able to be as confident to speak out on other things if I felt that my whole life was up for grabs.” You do you, king, and just know literally all of us are in love with you.
James Ellis (2019)

Bailey is believed to have dated actor James Ellis around 2019. Though the actor never spoke about it in public, they seemed to confirm the relationship during the Olivier Awards in 2019. As Bailey won for his role in Company, he kissed Ellis before getting up on stage to give his speech. Pretty clear sign. There’s no information about when they started dating or when they broke up.

He would also discuss the role of Company in LGBTQ+ storytelling during his speech, something Bailey has spoken about multiple times. “You know, at a time where acknowledging the very existence of LGBTQ people in our schools is being questioned, we have been able to, as a company, show a lovely and celebratory snapshot of gay love,” Bailey said. “That LGBTQ people really aren’t that different. We’re not that different. We are just as anxious, and we’re just as flawed and desperate to fall in love as everyone else. Thank you to the cast, this is for you!”