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Everything You Should Know About Bridgerton's Jonathan Bailey, TV's Hottest Viscount
Getty / Dave M. Benett / David M. Benett
Viscount Anthony Bridgerton may be a bit of a polarizing character in Bridgerton, but in real life, the actor who plays Daphne’s controlling older brother couldn’t be more different. English actor Jonathan Bailey, 32, kicked off his acting career in theater before landing the role of Flatpack in the TV comedy series Campus. He went on to appear in Broadchurch, W1A, Crashing, and Jack Ryan, among other TV shows and movies, and we have a feeling we’ll be seeing a whole lot more of him after Bridgerton. Here are just a few fun facts you should know about the eldest Bridgerton sibling.
Getty / David M. Benett
He Wanted to Become an Actor After Seeing a Stage Production of Oliver!
Jonathan first caught the acting bug when he was 5 years old and saw a production of Oliver! – a Broadway musical based on the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist – with his family. As Jonathan told WhatsOnStage during an April 2012 interview, “I remember announcing to my family something very clichéd like, ‘I want to be up there one day.'”
Getty / Jeff Spicer
He's Very Superstitious
Before performances, Jonathan has several rituals he runs through in order to calm his nerves. As he explained to Attitude magazine in October 2018, “They’re f*cking nuts and get weirder throughout the run . . . like having to flick my watch five times, and once when I was doing a play at The National I got to the point where I felt I had to take half a paracetamol before every entrance. Then there was the time where I’d say a Hail Mary. I did go to a Roman Catholic school, but that was pure anxiety. If I didn’t say it, I’d think something awful would happen.”
Getty / Dave M. Benett / David M. Benett
He Once Appeared Nude on Stage With Sir Ian McKellen
In 2017, Jonathan starred as Edgar alongside Sir Ian McKellen in a production of King Lear at the Chichester Festival Theatre, and his role required him to show a lot of skin. “Basically, I had to run about in a thong in the rain. [Ian] would get soaked as well, so afterwards we’d warm up, have a cup of tea and a chat,” he told Attitude in October 2018. Luckily, it ended up being a bonding experience. “He was everything you could wish for and more, so brilliant,” he added in reference to Ian. “After rehearsals, we’d order Deliveroo, sit on the picnic benches and put the world to right. He used to tell me, ‘Just live your life’, and he is very much someone who has.”
Later, when he was interviewed by Ian for Attitude in December 2020, Jonathan jokingly reminded the actor how they first met. “We met on day one of rehearsals of King Lear, in which we were both going to appear nude on stage,” he said.
Related: 9 Fun Things to Know About Bridgerton's Leading Lady, Phoebe Dynevor
Getty / David M. Benett
His Dream Role Is a Character in Cats
Though he unfortunately missed his chance to get cast in the 2019 movie based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage musical, Jonathan would still love a chance to appear in Cats. When asked about his dream role by Harper’s Bazaar, he immediately named Rum Tum Tugger, who was played by Jason Derulo in the movie.
Getty / Mike Marsland
His Bridgerton Sideburns Were Real
Wondering whether Anthony Bridgerton’s facial hair was the real deal? According to Jonathan, those sideburns were 100 percent au naturale. “They are real, baby,” he told The Cut in December 2020. “I fertilize them every day like a bonsai tree.” Apparently, he also has Bridgeton‘s makeup designer to thank for his “heavy-duty period drama mutton chops,” as he called them during a November 2019 interview with GQ. “Marc Pilcher – our amazing make-up designer – is in full control of my facial hair for the next six months,” he added. “He shears me like a sheep. I don’t have to do anything, which is great, as I hate shaving.”