By Jordan Grim • November 04, 2025 • 07:01 AM (PDT)
By Jordan Grim • November 04, 2025 • 07:01 AM (PDT)
Jonathan Bailey shared a genuine and heartfelt response after being crowned Sexiest Man Alive 2025 by PEOPLE magazine. On November 4, the Bridgerton actor appeared as a guest on Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show. He described being named Sexiest Man Alive 2025 as a “once-in-a-lifetime honor.”
Jonathan Bailey reacted to receiving the “Sexiest Man Alive 2025” title on Jimmy Fallon’s talk show. The Wicked star made a grand entrance to loud applause and cheers from the live audience.
Fallon asked him, “What does it feel like to be on the cover of PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive issue?” Bailey immediately responded, “I mean, it’s a lifetime honor.” Fallon then presented him with a digital copy of his magazine cover, which Bailey happily accepted and signed for The Tonight Show.
The talk show host then brought out another PEOPLE magazine cover featuring Jonathan Bailey. In the second cover, the actor is happily posing with a puppy.
Fallon followed up by asking, “So, where were you when you got the call about it?” Bailey revealed that he received the call while acting in William Shakespeare’s Richard II, and he was “preparing” for the role. The talk show host then pulled out a photo to corroborate Bailey’s story.
The host then placed Bailey’s Sexiest Man Alive cover story and his “preparation” photo side-by-side, which elicited laughter from the audience. The Fellow Travelers star explained, “I was in the zone. And when you’re doing Richard II, you get a little crazy. So, the craziest thing about doing Richard II was that I got invited to do this.” Additionally, Bailey thanked PEOPLE magazine for the honor and praised their inclusivity. He said, “I’m so happy that PEOPLE magazine has given this honor to someone who truly understands the value of a sexy man.”
Jonathan Bailey also identified the adorable puppy on the PEOPLE magazine cover. “That’s Benson. That’s our dog. He’s the most handsome.” Finally, Fallon jokingly asked if people would now treat him “differently,” and Bailey quipped, “I hope so.”