Jonathan Bailey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jonathan Bailey
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Bailey in 2024
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| Born | 25 April 1988 Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1995–present |
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Full list |
| Awards | Full list |
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Jonathan Stuart Bailey (born on April 25, 1988) is a talented English actor. He is well-known for his many roles in plays, musicals, and TV shows. Jonathan has won important awards like a Laurence Olivier Award and a Critics' Choice Television Award. He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.
Jonathan started acting when he was a child. He performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company. By age eight, he was in the famous musical Les Misérables in London's West End. He has starred in modern plays like The York Realist and Cock. He also acted in classic plays such as Othello and King Lear. In musicals, he was in The Last Five Years and Company. For Company, he won an Olivier Award in 2019.
On screen, Jonathan starred in the adventure series Leonardo and the musical-comedy Groove High. He became more widely known for the crime drama Broadchurch and the comedy Crashing. He gained huge fame for his role in the Regency romance series Bridgerton. He also starred in the political miniseries Fellow Travelers. This role won him a Critics' Choice Television Award. He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for it. In 2024, he played Fiyero in the musical fantasy film Wicked.
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Jonathan Bailey's Early Life
Jonathan Stuart Bailey was born on April 25, 1988, in Wallingford, England. His mom was an audiologist, and his dad managed a honey company. He grew up in nearby towns like Benson. Jonathan is the youngest of four children and the only boy. He decided he wanted to be an actor at age five. This happened after his grandmother took him to see the musical Oliver! in London. His very first time on stage was in a school play about Noah's Ark. He played a raindrop!
Jonathan went to Benson Church of England Primary School. He also attended The Oratory School and Magdalen College School, Oxford. He had a music scholarship and learned to play the piano and clarinet. When he was 15, he got an agent and started getting acting jobs. He chose not to go to university or drama school. He felt that learning through his own experiences helped him stay true to himself in acting.
Jonathan Bailey's Acting Career
Starting as a Child Actor (1995–2010)
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At age seven, Jonathan auditioned for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). He got the roles of Tiny Tim and Young Scrooge in their 1995 play A Christmas Carol. He sang "Where is Love?" from Oliver! for his audition. The next year, he appeared on TV for the first time in the show Bramwell. By age eight, he was playing Gavroche in the famous musical Les Misérables in London's West End.
In 2001, Jonathan played Prince Arthur in the RSC's King John. His first movie role was in 2004 in Five Children and It. This movie was based on a fantasy book. In 2006, he starred in the play Beautiful Thing. The Telegraph newspaper said he "memorably lit up" the show. After this, he had guest roles in popular British TV shows like Doctors and The Bill. His first main TV role was in the 2009 BBC comedy Off the Hook.
TV Success and Stage Work (2011–2019)
In 2011, Jonathan played the main character, Leonardo da Vinci, in the CBBC adventure series Leonardo. The show followed a young Leonardo and his friends in 15th-century Florence. It ran for two seasons and won several awards. That same year, he was in the comedy Campus. He played Flatpack, a student athlete with Olympic dreams.
Jonathan was nominated for an award for his role in the play South Downs in 2011. The Telegraph called him a future star. He also led the Disney Channel musical-comedy Groove High from 2012 to 2013. He played a pop star named Tom. The show mixed live action and animation, and Jonathan sang and did voiceovers for his animated character.
In 2013, Jonathan became very popular for playing journalist Olly Stevens in the crime drama Broadchurch on ITV. On stage, he was chosen by Nicholas Hytner to play Cassio in William Shakespeare's Othello. Jonathan sees this as his "big break." His performance as Cassio was praised as "splendid" by The Washington Post.
Jonathan also played Tim Price in the musical American Psycho. In 2014, he was a guest star in the Doctor Who episode "Time Heist". The Independent said he "stole the show" with his performance. He also had a supporting role in the film Testament of Youth (2014). Jonathan returned to comedy in the BBC show W1A, playing Jack for three seasons.
In 2016, Jonathan starred as Sam in Phoebe Waller-Bridge's TV show Crashing. W magazine called it a "twisted version of Friends." That same year, he was the lead in the musical The Last Five Years in London. The Stage praised his "real vocal surprise" and "masterclass of storytelling."
Jonathan appeared with Ian McKellen in the play King Lear in 2017. He received great reviews for his role as Edgar. He also made a guest appearance in the show Chewing Gum in 2017.
From February to April 2018, Jonathan starred in the play The York Realist. Critics gave it five stars, calling it "pitch-perfect" and "impeccably acted." Jonathan then joined the 2018 West End production of Stephen Sondheim's Company. He played Jamie, a role that was originally written for a female character. Jonathan's fast-paced song "Getting Married Today" became a must-see event. He won the 2019 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for this role.
Global Recognition and Film Roles (2020–Present)
Since 2020, Jonathan Bailey has starred in the Netflix series Bridgerton. This show is based on Julia Quinn's romance novels. He plays Anthony, 9th Viscount Bridgerton. His acting was highly praised, and he became widely recognized. The second season, which focused on his character, became one of Netflix's most-watched English-language shows. The Daily Beast praised his "exquisite lead performance."
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In 2022, Jonathan starred in the play Cock in London. The Observer called it an "immaculate production." Critics noted his "terrific performance" and "whiplash comic timing."
In 2023, Jonathan starred with Matt Bomer in the TV series Fellow Travelers. His performance was called "sensational" by The Washington Post. He won a Critics' Choice Award for this role. He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2024, he had a guest appearance in the teen drama Heartstopper.
Jonathan played Fiyero in the musical fantasy film Wicked (2024). He will play the role again in the second part in 2025. Critics said he was a standout. The Guardian wrote that he was an "outrageous scene-stealer." He also sang "Dancing Through Life" on the film's soundtrack. This song appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His performance earned him a nomination for a SAG Award.
In 2025, Jonathan will play the main role of Richard II in a Shakespeare play. He will also star in the movie Jurassic World Rebirth (2025).
Jonathan Bailey's Personal Life
Jonathan Bailey lives in Hove, East Sussex. He loves cycling and has competed in marathons and triathlons. He also enjoys paddleboarding and mountaineering. In 2018, he hiked to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal. The next year, he took part in the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for charity. In 2024, he ran the Hackney Half Marathon to support Just Like Us, a charity for LGBTQ+ youth. He is a patron of this charity.
Performances and Awards
See also
In Spanish: Jonathan Bailey para niños
