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“It’s a huge honor,” Bailey, 37, told the magazine. “Obviously,
I’m incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd.”
Bailey had audiences swooning as Prince Fiyero in his 2024
big-screen debut in “Wicked,” the popular movie musical in which
he proudly urges fellow students to join him in his shallowness.
The second half arrives in theaters Nov. 21.
He dripped with charm as Lord Anthony Bridgerton on Netflix’s “Bridgerton,”
and earned a 2024 Emmy nomination for his role in the Showtime
series “Fellow Travelers.” Most recently, he starred in
“Jurassic World Rebirth,” which came out in July.
Bailey told Fallon that the title was an “honor of a lifetime."
“I’m sort of thrilled that People magazine have invited someone
in — bestowed this honor on someone who can really cherish the
value of a sexy man," he said.
Bailey told People that he's known he wanted to be an actor
since he was 5 years old and his grandmother took him to see a
production of the musical “Oliver!” Within two years he had
achieved that dream, performing with the Royal Shakespeare
Company.
He's had plenty of stage credits since then, including starring
in Shakespeare’s Richard II in London earlier this year.
Bailey, who has spoken openly about being a gay actor, founded
The Shameless Fund, which helps to support LGBTQ+ organizations.
“I know the LGBT sector is under immense threat at the moment,”
he said. “So it’s been amazing to meet people who have the
expertise and see potential that I could have only dreamed of.”
The first Sexiest Man Alive was Mel Gibson in 1985. Other past
recipients include Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John F. Kennedy
Jr., David Beckham, Michael B. Jordan, John Legend, Dwayne
Johnson, Paul Rudd, Pierce Brosnan and Patrick Dempsey.
Bailey, who will be the cover story in People's edition coming
out Friday, had to stay tight-lipped about the news. But he
admitted to the magazine that he couldn't keep it a complete
secret — he shared the news with his dog, Benson, who will also
be featured in the magazine.
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