Is Jonathan Bailey in a Relationship? Everything the "Wicked" Star Has Said About His Love Life

11/21/2024 11:13 AM

'Bridgerton' actor Jonathan Bailey said he was dating a "lovely man" in 2023

Jonathan Bailey might be known for playing dashing love interests, but off-screen, the actor keeps his romantic life private.

In 2023, he revealed to the Evening Standard that he was dating a "lovely man," though Bailey didn't share his partner's identity. A few years prior, the actor was linked to James Ellis after the two shared a kiss at the Olivier Awards in 2019.

And while the Wicked star has kept his romantic relationships out of the spotlight, he has opened up about bringing his experiences to his work on-screen, including as Lord Anthony in Bridgerton.

In a 2022 conversation with GQ Hype, Bailey spoke about the demands of playing Anthony, namely in acing the character's charm. The actor explained that the character forced him to "think about love a lot" and he made a small reference to his own personal life, saying, "You put your life experiences into [the work]."

So, what is Jonathan Bailey's dating history? Here's everything to know about the actor's relationships.

Bailey said he was dating a "lovely man" in 2023

In December 2023, Bailey told the Evening Standard that he was dating "a lovely man," though he opted to keep him anonymous.

"It's not secret, but it's private," Bailey explained. "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 shared a public kiss with James Ellis in 2019

Around 2019, Bailey was rumored to be in a relationship with James Ellis, who is an advertising director at Jester Media based in London. Previously, he worked for media corporations like Fox and CBS and is a 2002 graduate of Loughborough University, per his LinkedIn.

In 2019, the pair attended the Olivier Awards together where Bailey was awarded best actor in a supporting role in a musical for Company. Before making his way to the stage to accept the award, Bailey kissed Ellis, followed by an affectionate hug.

In his acceptance speech, Bailey spoke about the importance of seeing LGBTQ+ love stories on-screen.

"You know, at a time where acknowledging the very existence of LGBTQ people in our schools is being questioned, we have been able to, as a company, show a lovely and celebratory snapshot of gay love," he said. "LGBTQ people really aren't that different ... we're just as flawed and desperate to fall in love as everyone else. Thank you to the cast, this is for you!"

Bailey has played many romantic roles

Lord Anthony may reign as Bailey's most famous romantic role, but it wasn't his first — or his last.

After Bailey starred in Heartstopper, a YA Netflix series centering on a gay couple, the actor told Variety about the impact of seeing himself represented on the show. "Like so many people, I watched the first [season] and thought it was one of the biggest, most beautiful gifts to so many people, and I wish I had that growing up," he said.

Onstage, the actor has brought his own experiences to two major roles in Mike Bartlett's Cock and Stephen Sondheim's Company. In the former, Bailey plays John, who is torn between his boyfriend and a woman he falls for. In a gender-switched version of Company, he played Jaime, a man with cold feet who is set to marry his devoted fiancé Paul.

As for television, the English actor starred opposite Matt Bomer in Fellow Travelers. In the series, the pair navigate a gay relationship spanning the '50s through the '80s, decades when it was prohibited for them to be together. Bailey told PEOPLE that stepping into this role affirmed his purpose as an actor.

"I had looked for these gay stories, a sweeping gay love story, and I hadn't really seen them," he said in December 2023. "This ticked every single box, and it's something I know I'll be proud of for the rest of my career."

Bailey also spoke to PEOPLE about how he views his sexuality as a "superpower" when it comes to his work as an actor.

"It's a pretty common story that school is terrifying, especially in a world where people don't understand or the teachers and children don't understand LGBTQ+ identities and experiences," he said in December 2023. "But the superpower of being on the outside looking in means that when you're older, you are drawn to storytelling and creatives who are singular and exciting."

Bailey once struggled with the idea of coming out as gay

While playing characters with romantic narrative arcs has become central to Bailey's career, he once seriously grappled with the decision to come out publicly.

In a 2022 conversation withGQ, the actor recalled advice that had once been given to a friend and fellow actor: "There's two things we don't want to know: if you're an alcoholic or if you're gay."

For an aspiring actor, those words left a mark. "All it takes is for one of those people in that position of power to say that, and it ripples through," he explained. "So, yeah, of course, I thought that in order to be happy, I needed to be straight."

After some time though, Bailey's feelings changed. "I reached a point where I thought, 'F--- 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 said.