What you need to know
I’m glad to meet him.
In a recent interview, Jonathan Bailey talked about being named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive and hilariously reworked a famous line from Wicked.
When asked about the honor at the Wicked: For Good premiere in Sao Paulo on Nov. 4, the 37-year-old actor told Access Hollywood: “Some people are naturally sexy, and some people have sexy urges.”
The quote was a play on a line from Wicked: “Are we born evil or are we forced to be evil?” Glinda (Ariana Grande) asks, speaking of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the Wicked Witch of the West, in the film’s opening number, “No One Mourns for Evil.”
Bailey stars in Wicked as Prince Fiyero, who becomes embroiled in a love triangle with Grande and Erivo’s characters.
Continuing to discuss the 2025 PEOPLE title, Bailey said, “It’s a great honor and I will continue to be a humble servant next year.”
he added with a laugh. “And I’m going to serve people as the sexiest man before I pass it on to some other absolute man.”
Later, when asked by People magazine what she wanted most as Sexiest Man Alive, Bailey replied with a smile, “Peace, happiness, kindness, communication, and some naughty, naughty time.”
Bayley was announced as the 2025 cover star on Monday, November 3rd. He is the first openly gay man to be named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive.
While reflecting on the “huge honor” in an interview with Forbes on Thursday, Nov. 6, the star spoke about her excitement and what this opportunity means to the LGBTQ+ community.
Never miss a news. Sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to human interest stories.
“There’s nothing sexier than progress,” he said. “Of course, this year when the opportunity presents itself, there’s no reason not to step into that corner.”
“It makes sense to know when that invitation arrives. It’s great to be able to accept it without a second thought, knowing that it’s not only a meaningful and impactful honor, but also an incredibly hilarious honor,” Bailey continued. “That’s not lost on me at all.”
The actor also admitted that he was “very influenced by sexy men growing up,” and clarified that he also meant “many people in society who have changed their perception of themselves.”
PEOPLE Puzzler Crossword is here! How fast can you solve it? Play now!
Bailey also told the outlet that she wanted to know how the title would help the LGBTQ+ community, saying, “I know what it means, to me, to little me, and to a lot of people out there. This is a celebratory moment for a lot of people.”
