Jonathan Stuart Bailey born 25 April 1988 is an English actor. He won a Laurence Olivier Award for his portrayal of Jamie in the 2018 West End revival of Company. His television work includes the ITV drama Broadchurch, the CBBC series Leonardo, the BBC Two series W1A, the Channel 4 comedy Campus, and the Netflix period drama Bridgerton.
Early life and education
The son of former Rowse Honey managing director Stuart Bailey, Bailey was born in Wallingford and grew up in the nearby village of Benson with his three older sisters.
Bailey decided he wanted to be an actor at the age of five after seeing a stage production of Oliver!. He attended a dance club in Henley-on-Thames, through which he auditioned for and landed an alternating role in the 1995 Royal Shakespeare Company production of A Christmas Carol at the Barbican Theatre in London when he was about seven years old.
He attended the local Benson C of E Primary School and then completed his A Levels at Magdalen College School in Oxford. He did not go to drama school and instead pursued a degree with the Open University.
Career
Film and television
In 2011, Bailey was cast as Leonardo da Vinci in the BBC series Leonardo and went on to play opposite Sarah Alexander in the BBC comedy Me and Mrs. Jones.
In September 2014, he appeared in the Doctor Who series 8 episode “Time Heist”. Bailey portrayed reporter Olly Stevens in the ITV series Broadchurch. He also had a recurring role as Jack Patterson in BBC Two comedy W1A appearing in all three series of the show. He’s also had one of the lead roles in Crashing and had a guest role in Chewing Gum.
In 2019, he was cast in a leading role on the Shonda Rhimes-produced Netflix period drama series Bridgerton playing the role of the Viscount Anthony Bridgerton.
Theatre
Bailey was nominated for the award for Outstanding Newcomer at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2012 for his performance in David Hare’s South Downs. He played the role of Tim Price in the musical American Psycho alongside Matt Smith at London’s Almeida Theatre in 2013.
In 2017, Bailey appeared alongside Ian McKellen, Sinéad Cusack and Dervla Kirwan in King Lear at the Chichester Festival Theatre. In 2018, Bailey was cast in the second West End revival of Company, playing Jamie (originally written as a female character, Amy). For his portrayal, Bailey won the 2019 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical.
Personal life
Bailey is openly gay. He has spoken about his experiences as a gay actor in interviews with The Times and Attitude magazine.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Five Children and It | Cyril |
| 2007 | Elizabeth: The Golden Age | Courtier |
| 2007 | Permanent Vacation | Max Bury |
| 2007 | St Trinian’s | Caspar |
| 2014 | Testament of Youth | Geoffrey Thurlow |
| 2016 | The Young Messiah | Herod |
| 2018 | The Mercy | Ian Wheeler |