Jonathan Bailey has dropped a huge hint that he could be up for playing James Bond. The Bridgerton and Wicked star, who’s now staring in Jurassic World Rebirth alongside Scarlett Johansson, stars as MARTINI Man for the drink’s new summer campaign following in the footsteps of George Clooney and Jude Law.
The ad, which was shot in sun-drenched Southern Italy, sees the 37-year-old actor teasing that he could be stepping into Daniel Craig’s shoes to take over the iconic spy role as he poses – stylishly, of course – with a Martini spritz in hand. Of course, vodka martini is famously Bond’s favourite drink, which he prefers shaken not stirred. This potentially huge, clanging sign post has, predictably, sent the internet into overdrive.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Henry Cavill, Regé-Jean Page, Richard Madden and Idris Elba are amongst the actors who have been rumoured to be in the running to be the next James Bond, which would be the 26th in the series and follows 2021’s No Time To Die.
Who is Jonathan Bailey?
Jonathan is a star of stage and screen. He started acting as a child, playing Tiny Tim and young Scrooge in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of A Christmas Carol in 1995 and performed as Gavroche in the West End production of Les Miserables when he was eight. He made his big-screen debut in Five Children And It in 2004, but continued to appear on TV and in theatres with roles in Doctors, The Bill, Groove High and Broadchurch.
While he considers playing Cassio in Othello at the Olivier Theatre in 2013 as his ‘big break’, it wasn’t until he portrayed Anthony, 9th Viscount Bridgerton, in Bridgerton that the rest of the world noticed him – including Hollywood. Suddenly, he became Tinseltown’s hottest hunk, landing roles in Showtime’s Fellow Travelers, Netflix’s teen drama Heartstopper and leading man Fiyero in Wicked and the upcoming second part. And while he hasn’t forgotten his theatre roots, returning to the stage in Richard II earlier this year, his role in Jurassic World Rebirth is sure to propel him to even greater heights.
How old is Jonathan Bailey?
Jonathan is 37 years old.
What is Jonathan Bailey’s height?
Jonathan is 5’11 or 1.80m.
Who is Jonathan Bailey’s boyfriend?
After coming out as gay to his family and close friends in his early 20s, Jonathan came out publicly in 2018, but doesn’t let his sexuality define him or his career. ‘I thought in order to be happy, I needed to be straight… 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.
As to whether Jonathan is single or not, we have to assume that Jonathan is happily taken. In 2023, he revealed he was dating a ‘lovely man’ but didn’t name him. ‘It’s not secret but it’s private. Having a private life is, for me, completely critical,’ he said. ‘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.’
He was previously linked to actor James Ellis in 2019, whom he kissed at the Olivier Awards that year, upon winning a gong. But as we now know with Jonathan, a kiss doesn’t mean they are dating – as in the case of him kissing his Jurassic World Rebirth co-star Scarlett Johansson.
He was also linked to his Fellow Travelers co-star Matt Bomer, but their on-screen chemistry is merely that. In real life, Matt is married to publicist Simon Hall, with whom he shares three children.
Does Jonathan Bailey have children?
Jonathan doesn’t have kids, but is hoping to in the future. ‘I’m reading books on adoption. I might coparent with a woman, but I’m thinking it will be with a man,’ he said.
Shereen Low is a senior news and entertainment writer for Grazia UK, who has covered some of the biggest showbiz news from the past decade.