Jonathan Bailey — just named People’s 2025 Sexiest Man Alive — said in an interview with GQ Magazine that he’d rather hold his boyfriend’s hand in public than hide who he is for the sake of a role.

Dashing in all that he does, the English actor is stealing scenes — and hearts — and solidifying his standing as one of Hollywood’s most magnetic stars

Julie Jordan is an Editor at Large for PEOPLE. She has been with the brand for 27 years, writing cover stories and features and managing special issues including the Beautiful Issue and Sexiest Man Alive.

Jonathan Bailey knows how to bring the heat. Literally. After diving into the frigid ocean off a beach south of London for this cover shoot (his idea), he sits down in a cable knit sweater and requests a glass of Bordeaux (this writer joins him as well), and within minutes everyone in the room looks flushed.

It’s also quickly obvious why the English actor, 37, brimming with charm, wit and almost unfairly handsome looks, has become one of the most irresistible stars in Hollywood. And yet he’s still getting used to all the fuss.

Supreme overalls. JERKS London tee shirt. Kapital beanie. Salomon sneakers.

Asked when he first realized his fame was growing, Bailey recalls a moment in 2020 shortly after the steamy Netflix series Bridgerton catapulted him into the spotlight. “I had the radio set for my alarm, and one morning it went off with, ‘Here’s the news at 7. But just before we go, can we talk about Jonathan Bailey?’ ” the actor says with an incredulous laugh. “I was like, ‘Where is my journal? Is this real?’ It was wild.”

He’s going to need a bigger journal. In the past five years Bailey has captured hearts as Lord Anthony on Bridgerton and earned an Emmy nomination for his role as a closeted congressional staffer in the Showtime series Fellow Travelers. Then, of course, there’s his 2024 big-screen debut as Prince Fiyero in the movie musical megahit Wicked, followed by this summer’s blockbuster Jurassic World: Rebirth.

The actor has been grateful to work alongside “brilliant” talent like Matt Bomer, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Scarlett Johansson. Based on photos of him with his costars (always hugging, sometimes kissing), the feeling appears to be very mutual.

Bailey, who was raised in rural Oxfordshire with three older sisters by his mom, Carole, and dad, Stuart, knew he wanted to be an actor at age 5 after seeing a performance of Oliver! with his grandmother.

At 7, he was performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company in London and has continued to master his craft both on stage and screen ever since.

Leviʼs jeans.

Ahead of the finale, Wicked: For Good, hitting theaters Nov. 21, “Jonno,” as his close friends call him, is enjoying the last few weeks of calm before the fan-frenzied storm begins again. “You get to a point where you look back and you go, ‘Wow,’ but you never for a second think that’s where you’re headed,” he says. “You know, to be able to do things that you dream of.”

Speciale 324 sweater. Leviʼs jeans.Jason Hetherington

So what did you think when you heard you were being given the Sexiest Man Alive crown? 

It’s a huge honor. Obviously I’m incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd. [Laughs] It’s been a secret, so I’m quite excited for some friends and family to find out.

You really haven’t told anyone? 

I told my dog Benson [who joined him at the shoot]. But no, I haven’t. How do you spell . . . NDA?

Speciale 324 sweater. Leviʼs jeans. JW Anderson sunglasses & chain.Jason Hetherington

JONATHAN FILLS IN THE BLANK

I have an irrational fear of . . . 

Snakes. They really freak me out.

At a party I can’t wait to . . . 

Leave.

Every guy should . . . 

Have a gay friend.

People are always surprised when I . . . 

Do a backflip really badly.

My game plan for getting older is . . . 

To embrace it all.

Who do you think will give you the most grief?

Armani suit. Calvin Klein tank. Ray-Ban sunglasses.Jason Hetherington

I think a lot of my friends will. They’ll be furious that I haven’t told them. And then they’ll just squeal with delight. They’ve seen me grow up. Behind the mask of being identified as a sexy man are other truths that they know and they’ve witnessed. They know the secrets.

What were you like as a kid? 

I was really enthusiastic, probably quite annoying. Hard to calm down. I don’t think I ever thought of myself as sexy as I grew up.

When did you start being comfortable in your skin? 

At various moments in my life I’ve been like, “I’ve got this,” which is sometimes met by a deep spike of fear and self-doubt. When I was really young, I was very confident about who I was, and maybe I lost that as I grew up. We’re all sort of trying to get back to the origin, aren’t we? But I was swimming in the sea about an hour ago with a good gang, and I felt all right in my skin.

And now you’re the Sexiest Man Alive. Is there anything you’ve failed at but learned from? 

I didn’t finish open university, where you study from home. I signed up for about nine different courses, not realizing if you didn’t finish them, you get expelled. So I didn’t finish my volcanoes and tsunami course, or my Leonardo da Vinci course. I did finish my music course, but just at that point, I got expelled. Hopefully that’ll be something I can go back to.

Armani suit. Calvin Klein tank. Ray-Ban sunglasses.Jason Hetherington

Do you really think you will? 

I do, yeah. I want to know . . . what happens with volcanoes. [Laughs]