Jonathan Bailey Talks Breaking Barriers, His 'Jurassic' Role

Jonathan Bailey has been on a fast track to global stardom. The British actor first shot to fame as Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix’s Bridgerton, a role that made him an international heartthrob and propelled him from the London stage to major Hollywood franchises. Now, Bailey is set to star in not one but two massive film releases—playing Fiyero again in the highly anticipated Wicked: For Good, and Dr. Henry Loomis in Jurassic World: Rebirth, alongside Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali.

In a candid new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bailey opened up about the pressure of being an openly gay actor in a historically heteronormative industry, how Bridgerton shifted the trajectory of his career, and what it means to step into a blockbuster like Jurassic. “Being an out gay actor, historically, meant that you wouldn’t be able to play straight and there weren’t any gay parts to play, anyway,” Bailey told THR. “That’s obviously changed, massively.”

Despite that lingering bias, Bailey became a romantic lead beloved by audiences of all genders. His performance in Bridgerton made him one of the breakout stars of the series and ultimately led to his casting in Wicked—a role that earned him a SAG Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. “You have to unlearn a lot of narratives about yourself that an industry tells you,” he said. ”If you’re gay, there’s a glass ceiling.”

“Any sort of sense of prejudice against sexuality is something to fight against, and what better way to do that than to go and play any kind of character," Bailey added.

Determined to make a difference beyond the screen, Bailey launched The Shameless Fund, dedicated to raising awareness for LGBTQ+ non-profits through creative collaborations. But despite the progress he’s witnessed in recent years, he still acknowledges the pressure that comes with his visibility. 

“There’s moments where, yes, you have to be excellent to prove that you can do it. And it’s not like I haven’t felt that,” he said. “There’s the weight of history. And there’s endless brilliant people who have come before you who have changed the way that people see sexuality.”

Bailey’s casting in Jurassic World: Rebirth marks another major milestone. Following the success and scale of Wicked, which reportedly had a $700 million budget, his leap into the Jurassic universe cements his place among today’s leading men. His acting career hasn’t been without hesitation, though.

Bailey almost didn’t audition for Bridgerton at all. At the time, he was finishing a demanding run in the 2018 revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Company and wasn’t sure he had the energy for a major TV production: “When you go and film something like Bridgerton, and you say goodbye to your friends, your family, it’s all-encompassing,” he said. “I just feel that maybe Bridgerton was just a smidge quicker than I was prepared for.”

After the premiere of Bridgerton Season 2, Bailey returned to the stage in Cock, and saw a new wave of theatergoers pack the house—many of them curious to see the star live. 

Though his character may not take center stage in future Bridgerton seasons, Bailey is happy to continue with the franchise. “I know how important familiarity of character and story and consistency is in these long-running series,” he said.

With a whirlwind press tour ahead for Jurassic World: Rebirth, followed by Wicked: For Good, Bailey has yet to reveal what his next role might be. But one thing’s certain: he’s entering this next chapter with an empowered mindset.