The 37-year-old Brit made the big reveal on The Tonight Show Monday night (Nov. 3), looking every bit the leading man as he soaked in the applause. Speaking to PEOPLE, Bailey kept it humble and a little playful:
“It’s a huge honor. Obviously I’m incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd. It’s been a secret, so I’m quite excited for some friends and family to find out.”
Absurd or not, the man’s having a moment. Bailey’s been booked and busy all year — from starring in Wicked alongside Ariana Grande to tearing it up in Jurassic World: Rebirth. Add to that a TIME 100 Next nod and his work through The Shameless Fund, raising big money for LGBTQ+ causes, and it’s clear why the world can’t stop watching.
And it’s more than just looks — Bailey’s journey has been about owning his truth. The Fellow Travelers actor, who snagged an Emmy nomination and graced both Out and Out100, is the first openly gay man to take PEOPLE’s top title. Representation matters, and Bailey just put some respect on it.
Reflecting on his rise, he told PEOPLE:
“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. You know, to be able to do things that you dream of.”
And he didn’t stop there — the star got real about the ups and downs of self-confidence:
“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.”
From the ballroom of Bridgerton to breaking barriers in real life, Bailey’s glow-up is undeniable.
He now joins a legendary lineup of past “Sexiest Men Alive.” Think Idris Elba, Michael B. Jordan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Chris Evans, and last year’s pick, John Krasinski. But this year? It’s a little more iconic. A little more history-making. A little more Jonathan Bailey energy.
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