Is Jonathan Bailey gay? The truth about the Bridgerton star's love life
Jonathan Bailey has quickly risen in Hollywood as a heartthrob admired by fans of all genders. Although he only recently ventured into the American scene, his sexuality has drawn much public curiosity.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Jonathan Bailey identifies as gay. He became open about his sexuality in his 20s.
- He keeps his romantic life private, but recently confirmed that he is currently single.
- Bailey is also a philanthropist and uses his work to advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance.
Profile summary
| Full name | Jonathan Stuart Bailey |
| Nickname | Jonny, Jono |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 25 April 1988 |
| Age | 37 years old (as of 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Place of birth | Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England |
| Current residence | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Gay |
| Height | 5’11” (180 cm) |
| Weight | 72 kg (159 lbs) |
| Shoe size | 9.5 (US) |
| Hair colour | Dark brown |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Parents | Stuart and Carole Bailey |
| Siblings | Three sisters |
| Marital status | Single |
| Education | Benson Primary School and Magdalen College School |
| Profession | Actor |
| Net worth | $2 million |
| Social media |
Is Jonathan Bailey gay?
Jonathan Bailey’s sexuality became subject to public scrutiny, and he openly identifies as gay. In a Vanity Fair interview about his sexuality, he said:
I was hyper-aware of the complexities and nuances of how I felt about myself being a gay man, let alone a gay actor, and suddenly finding success in playing a straight part and talking about that.
Source: Original
Jono was aware of his sexuality since childhood
The English-born actor reportedly became aware of his sexuality when he was about 12 years old. Jonny gradually came to this realisation but struggled to accept it due to society’s negative perceptions.
During an interview with British Vogue, the actor revealed he always wanted to talk about it and even subtly came out during a sleepover in his childhood. He eagerly asked if anyone else felt the same way he did about being gay. But he also remembered that everyone was quiet after his question.
People knew that he was gay before he did
In a publication by Today, Jonny believes that his parents were aware of his sexuality before he figured it out. They allowed him to explore his preferences for female-dominated activities, such as ballet.
Reactions to the gay actor's sexuality as a young person were often negative. He recalled a teacher mocking him as a ‘fairy’ and blaming that for his struggles in class.
Jonathan Bailey once dated a lady
Although he identifies as gay, Bailey briefly dated a woman in his 20s. Jonathan Bailey’s girlfriend at the time remains a secret. While speaking to British Vogue about that period in his life, he said:
It’s interesting with the binary, where you’re perceived to be either this or that. That’s how I saw it at the time, but there are so many nuances to it. My experience of that relationship was not that I was in the shadows. She remains one of my best friends.
Source: Getty Images
Bailey initially hid his sexuality
Jonathan thought he needed to suppress his sexuality to get on the good side of the movie industry. Someone in the industry had told him that nobody in Hollywood would want to know if a person was an alcoholic or if they were gay.
That conversation made Jono believe his television career was at risk. He was convinced that the homophobic top executives had a great influence on Hollywood. Jonathan felt pressured to appear straight to secure roles and succeed in acting.
He is no longer scared of identifying as gay
Jonathan reportedly kept his sexuality under wraps until he could no longer take it. In a GQ interview, he said:
I reached a point where I thought, enough of this. I’d much prefer to hold my boyfriend’s hand in public or be able to put my own face picture on Tinder and not be so concerned about that than getting a part.
He openly shows affection with his partners and says he has always been the confident one in relationships. He also noted that people used to make fun of them for holding hands in public, but things are different nowadays.
Source: Getty Images
Bailey is not married
Though Jonathan Bailey's relationship is private, he has not yet married. The actor disclosed being romantically involved with a “lovely” man. Speaking to The Evening Standard about his love life in 2023, Jonny said:
It’s not secret, but it’s private. Having a private life is, for me, completely critical.
He is currently single and open to dating
The Jurassic World: Rebirth actor told the host of Chicken Shop Date, Amelia Dimoldenberg, that he was available after the latter asked if he was open to a date.
Back in 2019, there were rumours that Jonathan Bailey’s partner was fellow actor James Ellis. The speculation was confirmed when Bailey kissed James before stepping on stage to pick up his award for his role in the Company movie.
Jonathan Bailey does not have kids
The actor does not yet have children but hopes to adopt and co-parent in the future. Jonny has been preparing for fatherhood by reading about adoption, emphasising his desire to be a present parent.
He also noted that he is open to co-parenting with a woman but thinks it will mostly be with a man.
Source: Getty Images
Frequently asked questions
- Is Jonathan Bailey bisexual? He identifies as gay, even though he dated a lady before.
- When did Jonathan Bailey come out? He reportedly came out publicly in 2018, compared to celebrities like Jenna Ortega, who has not talked about it.
- Who is Jonathan Bailey's love interest in Wicked? He had a triangular romantic relationship with Elphaba and Glinda in the movie.
Final wrap
Jonathan Bailey is gay and has achieved success in Hollywood. Fellow actors and fans adore the Bridgerton star for being himself. He also leverages fame to support the LGBTQ+ community.
READ MORE: Is Billie Eilish gay? What the singer has said about her sexuality
As Briefly.co.za published, Billie Eilish confirmed she was bisexual in November 2023. The singer released her first explicitly gay anthem, Lunch, in May 2024.
Billie previously shared about struggling with her femininity and never feeling like a girl. She came out as queer in her November 2023 Variety cover story, where she shared that she has deep connections with women.
Source: Briefly News
