Jonathan Bailey Biography

Jonathan Bailey was born in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England. Since the age of five, he aspired to be an actor, after his grandmother took him to see a production of Oliver! in London.

Growing up, Jonathan took ballet lessons at The Oratory School and later attended Magdalen College School, Oxford, on a music scholarship, where he played the piano and clarinet.

He began his acting career on stage. At the age of seven, he landed the alternating roles of Tiny Tim and Young Scrooge in the 1995 Royal Shakespeare Company production of A Christmas Carol. In 1997, he made his on-screen debut, guest-starring on the British television series Bramwell, playing the role of William Kilshaw.

In 2004 he made his feature film debut in Five Children and It (2004) with Freddie Highmore.

In 2011, Jonathan played the role of Leonardo da Vinci on the action-adventure series Leonardo on the CBBC. The series followed a young Leonardo and his friends in 15th century Florence. Jonathan played the role for 26 episodes across two seasons.

In 2013, his career began to grow by playing the role of Olly Stevens in the first two seasons of the acclaimed British drama Broadchurch. That same year Jonathan went back to the stage as Cassio in the production of William Shakespeare's Othello. He credits that role to be the moment in which he felt he made it, and views director Nicholas Hytner as a mentor.

Over the next few years, Jonathan worked consistently on stage and on-screen, but it was in 2020 when he became a household name. He landed the role of Anthony on the Netflix mega-hit Bridgerton, which was the most-watched English-language television series on Netflix at the time during its second season. Jonathan played the role for 19 episodes across three seasons.

In 2023, Jonathan starred alongside Matt Bomer on the Showtime adaptation of Fellow Travelers. His performance was praised by critics and earned him Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television, and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

In 2024, Jonathan's star grew even further when he appeared as Fiyero in Wicked (2024) with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The film was a critical and financial success, with Jonathan receiving praise for his performance. He was nominated for a SAG award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.

In 2025, he starred in his first Hollywood action blockbuster — Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025) — alongside Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali. He also reprises his role as Fiyero in the sequel Wicked: For Good (2025).

Jonathan has also lent his voice to the world of video games. He plays the role of G'raha Tia in Final Fantasy XIV. He said that one time, he had about a week’s worth of recording for the character while he was on stage in West End, and while trying to juggle both roles his tongue became inflamed.

Filmography:

Wicked (2024)
Best Birthday Ever (2021)
The Mercy (2018)
The Young Messiah (2016)
Testament of Youth (2014)
St. Trinian's (2007)
Permanent Vacation (2007)
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
Five Children and It (2004)