Jonathan Bailey recently got the title of People’s first openly gay Sexiest Man Alive, but the actor already has a tongue-in-cheek plan for how to outdo his own milestone in a conversation with David Corenswet.
Jonathan Bailey reveals how he can surpass his ‘sexiest man alive’
As Bailey and Corenswet compared their parallel journeys from theater kids to blockbuster leads, the Wicked: For Good star admitted he’s still adjusting to the whirlwind. “I’ve been plugged into some sort of matrix,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been slowly working on the hardware over the years, but the software has just been accidentally upgraded exponentially.”
Both actors shared how surreal it feels to suddenly become heartthrobs, especially after expecting modest stage careers. Bailey is juggling the glow of his major musical film release with his new Sexiest Man Alive title — a label Corenswet couldn’t resist teasing as the conversation turned playful. When Corenswet asked the big question, “So how do you top Sexiest Man Alive?” Jonathan Bailey replied, “Ugliest.”
This was one of the many viral moments as the two bonded over their theater roots, early performances, and the discipline behind blockbuster roles. They each emphasized process over pressure, with Bailey saying, “If it looks like it’s something that you were born to do, then you’ve done the work so well.”
Their chemistry was especially evident when Corenswet praised Bailey’s levitation scene in Wicked: For Good, insisting the actor maintained true leading-man stature even while being lifted by Cynthia Erivo. Bailey responded with, “I mean, listen, I’d be carried by both Cynthia and Ari for the rest of my life if I could be.”
But the final banter sealed the moment. After Bailey joked that “Ugliest” was the only possible way to top Sexiest Man Alive, the pair rose to wrap the interview, prompting Corenswet to quip, “Should we kiss or something?” (via Variety)
