Jonathan Bailey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jonathan Bailey
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Bailey in November 2024
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Jonathan Stuart Bailey
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 25 April 1988) is an English actor. He is known for his roles in plays, musicals, and on TV and film. He has won a Laurence Olivier Award and a Critics' Choice Television Award. He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.
Bailey started acting as a child. He performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company. By age eight, he was in the West End musical Les Misérables. He has starred in many plays, including The York Realist (2018) and Othello (2013). He also performed in musicals like The Last Five Years (2016). For his role in Company (2018), he won an Olivier Award in 2019.
On screen, Bailey appeared in Leonardo (2011–2012) and Groove High (2012–2013). He became well-known for the crime drama Broadchurch (2013–2015). He also starred in the comedy Crashing (2016). He gained wider fame for his role in the Regency romance series Bridgerton (2020–present). His role in the miniseries Fellow Travelers (2023) earned him a Critics' Choice Television Award. He also received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for this role. In 2024, Bailey played Fiyero in the musical fantasy film Wicked. He was nominated for a SAG Award for this part. In 2025, Bailey starred in the science fiction thriller film Jurassic World Rebirth.
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Early Life and Acting Start
Jonathan Stuart Bailey was born on 25 April 1988. His parents are Carole, an audiologist, and Stuart Bailey, a managing director. He grew up in Benson and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, England. He has three older sisters. He decided to become an actor at age five. This happened after his grandmother took him to see Oliver! in London. His first stage role was a raindrop in a primary school play called Noah's Ark.
Bailey went to Benson Primary School and then The Oratory School. He also took ballet lessons. He later received a music scholarship to Magdalen College School, Oxford. There, he played the piano and clarinet. At 15, he got an acting agent and started booking roles. He chose not to go to university or drama school. He felt this helped him stay connected to the performing arts.
Career Highlights
Early Acting Roles (1995–2010)
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At seven years old, Bailey auditioned for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). He got roles in their 1995 production of A Christmas Carol. He played Tiny Tim and Young Scrooge. He sang "Where Is Love?" from Oliver! for his audition. The next year, he made his TV debut in Bramwell. He also played Little Baptiste in the RSC's 1996 show Les Enfants du Paradis. By age eight, he was playing Gavroche in the West End production of Les Misérables. He also performed in a pantomime of Peter Pan.
In 2001, Bailey played Prince Arthur in the RSC's King John. His first movie was Five Children and It in 2004. This film was based on a fantasy novel. In 2006, he started rehearsing for the play Beautiful Thing. He took over the main role from Andrew Garfield. The Telegraph said Bailey "memorably lit up" the show. He also had guest roles in British TV shows like Doctors and The Bill. His first main TV role was in the 2009 BBC sitcom Off the Hook.
TV Success and Stage Work (2011–2019)
In 2011, Bailey played Leonardo da Vinci in the CBBC series Leonardo. This action-adventure show followed a young Leonardo in 15th-century Florence. The show ran for two seasons and won several awards. In the same year, he starred in the comedy Campus. He played Flatpack, a student athlete.
Bailey was nominated for an Evening Standard Theatre Award in 2011. This was for his role in David Hare's play South Downs. The Telegraph called him a future star. He also led the Disney Channel musical-comedy Groove High from 2012 to 2013. He played the popstar Tom, singing and doing voiceovers for his animated character.
In 2013, Bailey became very popular for playing journalist Olly Stevens. This was in the first two seasons of the crime-drama Broadchurch on ITV. On stage, he was cast as Cassio in William Shakespeare's Othello at the Olivier Theatre. Bailey sees this as his "big break." His performance was described as "splendid" by The Washington Post.
Bailey guest starred in the Doctor Who episode "Time Heist" in 2014. The Independent said he "stole the show" with his performance. He also had a role in the film Testament of Youth (2014). Bailey returned to comedy in the BBC show W1A. He played Jack for three seasons.
In 2016, Bailey starred as Sam in Phoebe Waller-Bridge's TV show Crashing. He played a lively estate agent. The same year, he starred in the London musical The Last Five Years. The Stage praised his "haunting renditions" of songs. Edward Seckerson of The Arts Desk called his performance "sensationally good."
Bailey appeared with Ian McKellen in King Lear in 2017. He received great reviews for his role as Edgar. The Evening Standard called it "a touching study of transformation." Bailey also appeared in Michaela Coel's sitcom Chewing Gum in 2017.
Since 2017, Bailey has voiced the character G'raha Tia in the video game series Final Fantasy XIV. He has continued this role in several expansions, including Stormblood (2017), Shadowbringers (2019), Endwalker (2021), and Dawntrail (2024). He enjoys the role and finds the writing almost like Shakespeare.
From February to April 2018, Bailey starred in The York Realist. Critics gave the play five stars. Bailey joined the 2018 West End production of Stephen Sondheim's Company. He played the role of Jamie, which was originally written for a female character. His fast-paced performance of "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 Work (2020–Present)
Since 2020, Bailey has starred in the Netflix series Bridgerton. This show is based on Julia Quinn's Regency romance novels. He plays Anthony, 9th Viscount Bridgerton. His acting was highly praised. The second season, which focused on his character, became one of Netflix's most-watched English-language series. The Daily Beast praised his "exquisite lead performance."
In 2023, Bailey starred with Matt Bomer in the Showtime miniseries Fellow Travelers. The Washington Post called his performance "sensational." He won a Critics' Choice Award for this role. He also received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award. In 2024, he made a guest appearance in the third season of the teen drama Heartstopper.
Bailey played Fiyero in the musical fantasy film Wicked (2024). This movie is based on the musical. He will play the role again in the second part in 2025. Critics praised his performance. The Guardian said he was an "outrageous scene-stealer." ABC News noted his "display of song, dance and acting virtuosity." He 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 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role. The film's cast also received a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
He is currently playing the main role of Richard II in Nicholas Hytner's production of Shakespeare's play at the Bridge Theatre. This play will run until May 2025. In 2025, Bailey also starred in Jurassic World Rebirth, directed by Gareth Edwards.
Personal Life and Interests
Bailey lives in Hove, East Sussex. He enjoys cycling and has competed in marathons and triathlons. He also likes 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. This was to raise money for the Scottish branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association. In 2024, he ran the Hackney Half Marathon. He did this to benefit Just Like Us, a charity for LGBTQ+ youth, where he is a patron.
Bailey is committed to showing support and being visible for others. He believes it's important to fill spaces that were not there when he was growing up. In 2024, Bailey started a charity called The Shameless Fund. This fund aims to help people in the queer community around the world live freely and truly themselves. It raises money through partnerships with celebrities and brands. The charity's first project was with the fashion brand Loewe.
Performances and Awards
See also
In Spanish: Jonathan Bailey para niños
