JONATHAN BAILEY
Bridgerton Star: Storytelling with Pride On and Off Screen
Photo from: See Li, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
“The superpower of being on the outside looking in means that when you’re older, you are drawn to storytelling and creatives who are singular and exciting and I think queer people have a real strength to them, which could be celebrated.”
Jonathan Bailey is a celebrated award-winning British actor, as well as an LGBTQ+ advocate and activist. From his breakout role as Anthony Bridgerton from Netflix’s hugely popular Regency-era drama Bridgerton, to his portrayal of Tim Laughlin, a closeted gay man navigating the complexities of love and self-acceptance in Fellow Travelers, he has captivated audiences with his talent and charisma, using storytelling to champion LGBTQ+ visibility and representation on and off screen.
LGBTQ+ History: Showcasing Love & Persecution
Following his success in Bridgerton's second season, Jonathan switched gears, seeking to explore a different kind of love story, in his first major LGBTQ+ project, Fellow Travelers. This groundbreaking historical drama showcased a rarely seen story of love between two men in an era of oppression.
“Someone asked me after Bridgerton, ‘What do you want to do next?’ and that is an amazing position to be in, having worked for so long to suddenly have real choice in what you do. I knew that I wanted to do a sweeping gay love story because I hadn’t seen it, especially one that’s detailed over eight hours.”
— Gay Times, Jonathan Bailey: ‘Fellow Travelers is the gayest show I could find’
The miniseries sheds light on a hidden chapter of U.S. history during the McCarthy-era, highlighting the persecution faced by LGBTQ+ individuals working for the U.S. government during the height of the 1950s Lavender Scare. While the miniseries highlights a dark period of the LGBTQ+ American history, it also shows how far the LGBTQ+ community has come in terms of visibility and representation.
“People look at the 1950s setting for Fellow Travelers and say, ‘God, how awful must it have been back then?’ We’re incredibly privileged in the west. Fifties America is pretty much everywhere else in the world, and still can be. There’s so many places where people are experiencing that level of oppression and so I’m really proud of Ron’s work because it presents 40 years of an incredible celebration of progression.”
— Gay Times, Jonathan Bailey: ‘Fellow Travelers is the gayest show I could find’
Becoming an LGBTQ+ Youth Advocate
Beyond his career in front of the camera, Jonathan also channels his energy and passion into championing important causes. Recalling the lack of positive LGBTQ+ role models in his youth, Jonathan became a patron of Just Like Us, a UK-based LGBTQ+ youth charity empowering young people to fight for equality and create safe spaces in schools.
“The media spun stories that were so negative towards the plight of the gay experience, so I didn’t really have access to anything that made me feel welcome or like I was going to be okay. . .I wonder what my life would’ve been like, had there been the vocabulary and ambassadors coming into my school. It would’ve definitely helped me feel more secure and to blossom quicker. ”
— Gay Times, Jonathan Bailey: ‘Fellow Travelers is the gayest show I could find’
Image from: @jbayleaf
Image from: @justgiving
Leveraging his fame for positive change, in May Jonathan completed the 2024 Wizz Air Hackney Half Marathon, raising over £30,000 for Just Like Us.
Launching The Shameless Fund
Jonathan has also launched his own charity, The Shameless Fund, seeking to harness the power of celebrity to raise money for a range of LGBTQ+ initiatives through global brand collaborations.
“A few years ago I thought, what can you do as an actor? There are so many amazing people who are on the frontline. They’re the real heroes that are working for organizations, and charities, and initiatives, which can speak to so many specific groups of people. How can I raise money without asking people to actually donate and sponsor, [but rather] to invite people to experience art and beautiful, inspiring, naughty, and exciting collaborations?”
— Vogue, Jonathan Bailey Launches LGBTQ+ Charity, The Shameless Fund, With Help From Loewe
The idea for The Shameless Fund came about during a conversation that Jonathan had with a close friend who is the creative director of Loewe.
“I’m a strong believer in using fashion to share information, educate, and support great causes, so when Jonathan Bailey called with this idea, there was no way I could refuse. I wanted to support The Shameless Fund for both its goals in advocating for LGBTQ rights and for Jonathan himself—he’s incredibly inspiring. He’s someone who really wears his heart on his sleeve—I love his dedication to his craft, to culture, and to being a champion for the LGBTQ community.”
With a flourishing acting career that is pushing boundaries in LGBTQ+ representation and the launch of The Shameless Fund, Jonathan Bailey's future promises continued success and a powerful voice for the LGBTQ+ community.
More Quotes from Jonathan Bailey
On the LGBTQ+ community
“The most common reaction I know to diving deep into queer history — [is] the understanding that we, like our forerunners, are responsible for shaping the queer future, whether in politics, society or art. No one is going to do it on our behalf.”
Sources:
https://www.justlikeus.org/blog/2024/05/20/jonathan-bailey-hackney-half-lgbt/
