Jonathan Bailey is the new Hollywood darling that everyone seems to be obsessed with and the frenzy surrounding the Emmy nominee shows no signs of slowing down, just like his rising net worth. The British actor’s career is clearly reaching new heights, and so is his growing fortune and impressive oeuvre.
Bailey’s recent roles as Prince Fiyero in Wicked (2024) and Tim Laughlin in Fellow Travelers (2023) alongside Matt Bomer establish him as one of the decade’s most promising actors.
With his unique blend of talent, good looks, and impeccable style, Bailey defines the term ‘heartthrob’, captivating audiences worldwide. His breakout role as Viscount Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix’s period drama Bridgerton (2020) turned him into a star overnight, as he brought to life the charming, yet complex, Viscount, especially in season 2. Interestingly, while his on-screen persona embodied the ultimate fantasy for many women, Bailey proudly identifies as gay in real life.
Intrigued by the ‘Bailey-fication’ of Hollywood? Here’s a comprehensive look at Jonathan Bailey’s net worth, standout performances, and a glimpse into his personal life.
Jonathan Bailey’s early life and career beginnings in theatre
Jonathan Bailey was born into a business family on 25 April 1988, in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. His mother Carole Bailey was an audiologist and his father Stuart Bailey was the former managing director of Rowse Honey. He grew up with three older sisters.
Bailey’s passion for acting emerged at a young age. He began performing in local theatre productions, which laid the foundation for his exceptional talent and nurtured his love for performing. He attended Benson Primary School, The Oratory School, and later received a music scholarship to Magdalen College School, Oxford. At seven years old, he auditioned for and landed the alternating roles of Tiny Tim and young Scrooge in The Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC) 1995 production of A Christmas Carol. He made his TV debut the following year in the Victorian period drama Bramwell.
Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Bailey continued to perform in various productions, including Les Enfants du Paradis (1996), Les Misérables (1997–1998) and King John (2003). He declined his university acceptance offer and chose to pursue his acting career instead of attending drama school.
As a well-recognised theatre artist, Bailey has been a part of numerous plays over the years including contemporary plays like The York Realist (2001) and Cock (2009) and classical plays like Othello (2013) and King Lear (2017), musicals like The Last Five Year (2016).
Bailey’s standout performance as Jamie in the West End revival of Company earned him widespread critical acclaim and recognition. His nuanced portrayal of a commitment-phobic bachelor navigating modern relationships showcased his impressive vocal range and exceptional acting abilities. This iconic role won Bailey the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2019, cementing his status as a leading artist in musical theatre.
Jonathan Bailey’s movie and TV career at a glance
With a career spanning over two decades, Jonathan Bailey has established himself as a versatile and talented actor. From historical dramas to contemporary thrillers, Bailey has effortlessly embodied a range of complex characters, garnering critical praise and recognition.
Bailey’s early film and television career was marked by notable roles in various TV shows and films. In 2011, he played Leonardo da Vinci in the CBBC action-adventure series Leonardo. The same year, he starred in the comedy series Campus and led the Disney Channel musical-comedy Groove High (2012-2013).
This was followed by him playing local journalist Olly Stevens in the hit crime drama Broadchurch (2013). He then guest-starred in the Doctor Who episode “Time Heist” in 2014, making a resounding cameo.
He played another supporting role in the period film Testament of Youth (2014). Bailey then returned to comedy in BBC’s satirical show W1A as Jack. In 2016, the English actor starred as Sam, a sex-obsessed estate agent in Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s comedy series Crashing.
The following year, Bailey briefly appeared in series two episode two of Michaela Coel’s sitcom Chewing Gum where he played Ash, a romantic interest to Coel’s character Tracey.
However, his breakout role came in 2020, when Bailey starred in the Netflix period drama Bridgerton, an adaptation of Julia Quinn’s Regency romance novels. His portrayal of Anthony Bridgerton, soared him to immense popularity, establishing him as the new Hollywood heartthrob. The show’s second season, which centred around Anthony’s love story with Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley), became Netflix’s most-watched series among the English-language titles at the time.
Bailey’s recent work includes starring alongside Matt Bomer in Paramount+’s queer historical drama Fellow Travelers (2023). He bagged his first Emmy nomination with the show in the Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie category in 2024. He also had a guest appearance in the third season of the teen drama series Heartstopper (2024).
His latest project was the Jon M. Chu-directed musical fantasy film Wicked (2024) where he played Prince Fiyero. It was led by Ariana Grande (as Glinda) and Cynthia Erivo (as Elphaba). He will also reprise his role in its second part in 2025.
Additionally, Bailey will play palaeontologist Dr Henry Loomis in Jurassic World: Rebirth, the seventh instalment of the Jurassic Park film series in 2025. Fans also eagerly await his return as Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton season 4.
Jonathan Bailey’s salary in 2024
There isn’t much data available about Jonathan Bailey’s salary for his previous projects. However, it was reported that his fee for Bridgerton increased substantially when his role took centre stage in season 2.
According to Variety, he was paid a sum of USD 225,000 for his role as Tim Laughlin in the queer historical series Fellow Travelers.
As for his salary in 2024, we have no clarity on how much Jonathan Bailey took home for his role as Prince Fiyero in Wicked. The movie had a massive budget of USD 145 million, and a source confirmed to Deadline that Grande and Erivo were paid equally.
So, how much is the net worth of Jonathan Bailey?
Despite the distinguished body of work that Jonathan Bailey has built so far, he isn’t as rich as Viscount Anthony Bridgerton. At the moment he’s got one of the lower net worths of the Wicked cast, as Bailey’s estimated fortune is reportedly around USD 1.9 million.
Now, with a lead role in Jurassic World: Rebirth coming up, along with all of his other upcoming projects and endorsement deals with brands like Emporio Armani, Loewe and Omega that amount seems likely to increase in the future.
Jonathan Bailey’s personal life
Known for keeping his personal life private, Jonathan Bailey was previously said to be in a relationship with actor James Ellis from around 2019 to 2022.
In late 2023 Bailey confirmed he’s dating a “lovely man.” After the release of Fellow Travelers, he opened up a bit during an interview with The Standard, revealing that there’s someone special in his life.
“It’s not secret, but it’s private,” he shared adding, “Having a private life is, for me, completely critical. I don’t know if I would be able to be as confident to speak out on other things if I felt that my whole life was up for grabs.”
Bailey is also a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and mental health awareness. He’s been open about his struggles with anxiety and depression, using his voice to promote awareness and encourage others to seek help.
His commitment to LGBTQ+ advocacy comes from his own experiences and a deep belief in equality and inclusivity. He consistently raises awareness about LGBTQ+ issues and challenges societal norms.
(Hero image: Courtesy of JONATHAN BAILEY/@jbayleaf via Instagram; Featured image: Courtesy of IMDb)
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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