Three Netflix titles starring the ‘Sexiest Man Alive’: Jonathan Bailey
When People magazine officially crowned Jonathan Bailey the ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ for 2025, humanity finally agreed on something. And honestly, how could they not? The man could read code syntax, and it would still sound like poetry.
He has a smile that’s to be termed illegal because it is potentially fatal. Every photo of him looks like it was taken during golden hour by a cinematographer who was also in love with him.
And the fact that he is the sexiest man alive is such a loss for straight women everywhere, who let out a collective sigh remembering that he is, in fact, gay. And it is so disheartening because Jonathan Bailey has perfected the art of being ‘the man’. The kind who listens well and also whispers something devastatingly romantic in a candle-lit ballroom (Bridgerton really did a number on us). He has ruined dating apps forever, and we can’t even be mad about it.
So, in honour of the world’s prettiest man and our collective emotional damage, here are three Netflix titles where Jonathan Bailey absolutely delivered, nay, served, and no, we are not including Bridgerton again. You have already rewatched that carriage scene five (hundred) times this month.
Three Netflix titles starring Jonathan Bailey
Broadchurch (2013-2017)
Before he became the internet’s favourite Regency heartthrob, Jonathan Bailey was out here doing serious, moody acting in Broadchurch. He played a small-town reporter named Olly Stevens, who chased the truth in a case that tears the community apart. And even though the show stars David Tennant and Olivia Colman, Bailey has done a fantastic job in managing to steal focus every time he is on screen.
And yes, it is wild watching him in a crime drama when you are used to him donning the period clothes, but the intensity is still there. His character is ambitious and extremely magnetic (obviously). If you have only seen him in romantic roles, this is your sign to watch Broadchurch and realise the man could play anything and still make it look heartbreakingly hot.
Crashing (2016)
Now this one is a dose of distilled serotonin. Crashing is the show that made everyone who watched it wonder if messy humans can be adorable, too. And it has Phoebe Waller-Bridge, so you know it is amazing. It is one of her early gems and is a painfully relatable comedy about twenty-something people squatting in an abandoned hospital. Coming to Bailey’s character in the show, he plays a man named Sam, who is super charming and has zero patience. It’s a delight to see him in that… I want to say golden retriever energy, but with some exceptions.
What makes Crashing so addictive is its naturalness. And since we are focusing on Jonathan today, he is funny and unfiltered in a way that makes your brain short-circuit. Watching him in Crashing makes you realise that he had that irresistible heartthrob energy long before he appeared and stole our hearts in Bridgerton.
Heartstopper (2022-2024)
And then there is Heartstopper. This show already owns half the internet’s emotions, and the fact that it also stars Jonathan Bailey also found a way to make it even more heart-melting. He is not one of the protagonists, but he shows up as Jack Maddox, and I swear, two minutes in and you will start realising why he is the sexiest man alive. He’s not brooding or dramatic here like in the previous two roles. This time, he is just warm and soft. Cute, right?
It’s such a short appearance, but it’s Bailey, so he makes it feel like a full storyline. You see him, and suddenly you’re emotional for no reason. It’s wild how he can switch from flirty and messy (Crashing) to a literal comfort character here; like, he doesn’t even have to do much. He just smiles once, tilts his head, and boom. Everyone’s gone.