Los Angeles: British actor Jonathan Bailey, best known for his roles in ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Wicked’, has been named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2025.

The announcement, marking the 40th anniversary of the title, was revealed on Monday night’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Bailey, 37, rose to international fame portraying Lord Anthony Bridgerton, the eldest of the Bridgerton siblings, in Netflix’s hit Regency-era romance drama ‘Bridgerton’.

“It’s an honour of a lifetime, and I want to say, Jimmy, thank you so much for turning it down so I could be here,” Bailey joked during the show.

Host Jimmy Fallon unveiled two magazine covers featuring Bailey — one showing him on a beach and another where he poses shirtless while holding a dog.

In an interview with People, Bailey said he was deeply flattered by the title.

“It’s a huge honour. Obviously I’m incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd. It’s been a secret, so I’m quite excited for some friends and family to find out,” he said, laughing.

Bailey added that he expected his friends to have mixed reactions when the news broke.

“I think a lot of my friends will. They’ll be furious that I haven’t told them. And then they’ll just squeal with delight. They’ve seen me grow up. Behind the mask of being identified as a sexy man are other truths that they know and they’ve witnessed. They know the secrets,” he joked.

Aside from Bridgerton, Bailey is widely recognised for his performance as Prince Fiyero in 'Wicked' and Dr Henry Loomis in 'Jurassic World: Rebirth'. He will next appear in 'Wicked: For Good', set to be released in cinemas on November 21.

People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive feature has been an annual tradition since 1985, when Mel Gibson became the first recipient. Previous honourees include George Clooney, Patrick Dempsey, Chris Evans, Paul Rudd, Michael B. Jordan, John Legend, and last year’s winner, John Krasinski.