Something has changed for“Villain” star Jonathan Bailey,Something is not the same — it isPeople Magazine’s Sexiest Man AliveFor the year 2025.
The magazine’s selection was announced Monday night on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Billy takes the mantle from the star of “The Office” and “Jack Ryan.”John Krasinskiwho was the 2024 pick.
“It’s a huge honor,” Billy, 37, told the magazine. “Obviously I’m incredibly flattered. This is completely ridiculous.”
Billy wowed audiences as Prince Fierro in his 2024 big screen debut in Wicked, the cult musical in which he proudly urges his fellow students to join him in his shallowness. The second half will arrive in theaters on November 21.
He was oozing charm as Lord Anthony Bridgerton in the Netflix series “Bridgerton,” and earned a 2024 Emmy nomination for his role in the Showtime series “Fellow Travelers.” Recently, he starred“Jurassic World Reborn”Which was released in July.
Billy told Fallon that the title was “the honor of a lifetime.”
“I’m thrilled that People magazine invited someone — giving this honor to someone who can truly cherish the value of a sexy man,” he said.
Billy saidthe peopleHe knew 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 fulfilled this dream by performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
He’s had plenty of theater credits since then, including starring in Shakespeare’s Richard II in London earlier this year.
Billy, who has spoken publicly about being a gay actor, founded The Shameless Fund, which helps support LGBTQ+ organizations.
“I know the gay sector is under tremendous threat right now,” he said. “So it was great to meet people who had experience and saw potential that I had only dreamed of.”
The first Sexiest Man Alive was Mel Gibson in 1985. Other past winners include Brad Pitt, George Clooney, John F. Kennedy Jr., David Beckham, Michael B. Jordan, John Legend, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Rudd, Pierce Brosnan andPatrick Dempsey.
Billy, who will be the cover story in Friday’s People magazine, was forced to remain silent about the news. But he admitted to the magazine that he couldn’t keep it completely a secret – he shared the news with his dog, Benson, who will also appear in the magazine.