Jonathan Bailey Named People’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2025
Actor Jonathan Bailey, known for his roles in “Wicked” and “Bridgerton,” has been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2025, marking a potential first for an openly gay public figure to receive the annual honor.
Bailey shared the cover of the magazine with his dog, Benson. “It’s the honor of a lifetime,” Bailey told Jimmy Fallon. The selection continues a trend of the award going to actors, often overshadowing nominations from other professions. This year’s choice follows John Krasinski, who held the title in 2024.
People magazine editors have stated that the selection isn’t solely based on physical appearance, citing political activism as a factor in previous choices, such as Michael B. Jordan. The award itself carries no monetary prize or cost, according to the magazine’s Executive Director of Special Integrated Projects, Andrea Lavinthal, who stated they “do not pay the honoree … and that the honoree does not pay the magazine.” The title often generates significant media attention and can boost an actor’s profile, as seen with previous winners like Brad Pitt, who received the honor in 1995.
While the magazine also acknowledges public opinion with titles like “Sexiest New Dad in Sports” – awarded this year to Christian McCaffrey – the ultimate decision rests with the editors. Magazine parent company IAC recently underwent layoffs, impacting 6 percent of its workforce, raising questions about the role of publicity in these selections.
People magazine officials have not indicated any changes to the selection process for future years.
