Jonathan Bailey: The ‘Scared and Alone’ Journey of Growing Up Gay and Battling Anxiety

Jonathan Bailey has revealed he felt ‘really scared’ and ‘alone’ while growing up gay in school.

The Wicked actor, 37, who was voted People’s Sexiest Man Alive, candidly spoke about his childhood during an interview to promote the new movie.

He admitted: ‘I felt scared and I felt alone and I felt entirely limited at various points in my life.’ 

Jonathan said he was bullied in school and experienced anxiety as well as depression.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: ‘It became clear quite early on that something that was very specific and clear to me about who I was, it wasn’t safe and it wasn’t celebrated.’  

Jonathan plays Prince Fiyero in Wicked, the love-interest to both Ariana Grande’s character Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba.

Jonathan Bailey has revealed he felt ‘really scared’ and ‘alone’ while growing up gay in school (pictured in September)

The Wicked actor, 37 candidly spoke about his childhood during while promoting the new movie: ‘I felt scared and I felt alone and I felt entirely limited at various points in my life’

Jonathan was voted People’s Sexiest Man Alive, and found out he received the title on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, with the actor admitting it was ‘the honour of a lifetime’

However, he added that he did not think he would be able to play such parts due to his sexuality. 

He said: ‘I thought not only was I not going to be able to play these sorts of parts because of my sexuality, but that I wouldn’t be able to do Shakespeare because I didn’t go to drama school.

‘They’re the sort of stories that we need to be reminded of is that actually standing up and being safe enough to be able to say who you really are, and to be vulnerable at that age… these formative years, is inspiring to everyone in the classroom.’  

Earlier this month Jonathan was voted People’s Sexiest Man Alive, and found out he received the title on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, with the actor admitting it was ‘the honour of a lifetime’. 

He quipped: ‘In 2025, I’m sort of thrilled that People magazine have invited someone in, to bestow this honour on someone who can really cherish the value of a sexy man.’ 

It comes off the heels of a massive year for the British star, after starring alongside Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World Rebirth. 

He is also known for starring as Anthony, also known as Lord Bridgerton, in popular Netflix romance series Bridgerton, which brought him to global fame.

But his career in television and film began long before his work on the streaming series, first appearing on screen in 1997 at just nine years old when he starred in the British television series, Bramwell.

Jonathan plays Prince Fiyero in Wicked, the love-interest to both Ariana Grande ‘s character Glinda and Cynthia Erivo ‘s Elphaba

He is also known for starring as Anthony, also known as Lord Bridgerton, in popular Netflix romance series Bridgerton, which brought him to global fame

After brief parts in various procedurals, including The Bill and Lewis, Jonathan starred alongside David Tennant and Olivia Colman in the British crime drama Broadchurch, which ran on ITV for three series between 2013 and 2017.

He also had featured heavily in the mockumentary sitcom W1A between 2014 and 2017, as well as the comedy, Crashing, created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. 

On the big screen, Jonathan appeared in the 2007 comedy film St Trinian’s, followed by Permanent Vacation and Elizabeth: The Golden Age, that same year.

And his performances have won him both fans and high critical praise, winning a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2019 for his performance in the musical Company.

While last year, he won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries for Fellow Travelers.