10 Shows and Movies to Watch If You Can’t Get Enough of Jonathan Bailey

Last week, People magazine dubbed English actor Jonathan Bailey as the Sexist Man Alive for 2025, and we fully understand the appeal.

Beyond the superficial, the star is also highly charismatic and an immensely talented performer who's been equally at home in comedies, dramas and even musicals, and he's the proud recipient of a Laurence Olivier Award. As fans who've been following his career for some time now, we think the title is well-deserved, and if you've been eager to dive deeper into his prolific filmography, we have some suggestions for you below.

Leonardo (2011—2012)

Though Jonathan's been acting for both stage and screen since childhood, we recommend starting with the CBBC series Leonardo, which aired for two seasons between 2011 and 2012. Jonathan stars as a teenage Leonardo da Vinci, joined by a ragtag group of friends, including the son of a the rich and powerful Lorenzo De Medici, a girl posing as a boy to pursue her artistic endeavors and the calculating Machiavelli. Together, they get wrapped up in the scheme of a shady secret society with aims to take control of Florence using Leonardo's innovative inventions. Lucky for them, if there's anyone who can outsmart Leonardo's designs, it's Leonardo himself.

(Leonardo via CBBC)

 

Groove High (2012—2013)

For something slightly sillier, be sure to check out Groove High, which ran on the Disney Channel in the U.K. for one season. The show was presented in a mix of animation and live-action following two music stars on tour—Jonathan Bailey as Tom opposite Samantha Barks as Zoe. The live-action segments would show the band in the present, while the cartoons dove into their past via flashbacks at their performing arts school, Groove High (even if the two can rarely agree about who things really went down back when they were kids).

(Groove High via Disney Channel)

 

Doctor Who – 'Time Heist' (2014)

Yes, Jonathan Bailey appeared in an episode of Doctor Who, and it happens to be a standout (and a standalone that works, even if you're not super familiar with the series). The 2014 episode, "Time Heist," shows the 12th Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and his companion Clara getting recruited to take part in a daring bank heist protected by a telepathic being, facilitated with the help of a little time travel. Jonathan Bailey plays the role of Psi, an augmented human who's part of the crew and plays a pivotal, emotional role on their quest.

(Doctor Who via The BBC)

 

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Broadchurch (2013—2015)

Broadchurch is one of our all-time favorite crime dramas thanks to its captivating mysteries and wonderfully written characters, and it's actually where we first got hooked on Jonathan Bailey as an actor. The series starts with the death of 11-year-old Danny Latimer in the quiet seaside town of Broadchurch, upending the peace and revealing more and more buried secrets during the investigation. Jonathan plays Olly Stephens, a journalist writing for the Broadchurch Echo, with ambitions to leave his hometown for work at a bigger paper. Danny's murder gives him the opportunity to show off his investigative chops, and with his aunt, DS Ellie Murder, working the case, he tricks her into revealing more than she should. His work shakes things up even further, continuing into the second season as he blogs about the trials of Danny's killer before finally leaving town.

(Broadchurch via ITV)

 

Crashing (2016)

Ready to watch Jonathan Bailey showcase his comedy chops? 2016's Crashing is a great place to start. This six-episode series follows six young adults living together in what used to be a hospital. In exchange for taking care of the space and adhering to strict rules, they get discounted housing. Before too long, this unique arrangement and close proximity brings them all together as one community, but will it result in deep friendships and strong relationships, or conflicts and resentments? In the series, Jonathan plays Sam, one of the inhabitants of the hospital known for his playboy behavior who develops a close relationship with his neighbor, Fred.

(Crashing via Channel 4)

 

W1A (2014—2017)

Anyone with a soft spot for workplace comedies is bound to love BBC Two's W1A, which ran for three seasons. It's a spin-off of the BAFTA-winning series Twenty Twelve, which starred Hugh Bonneville as Ian Fletcher, the Head of the Olympic Deliverance Commission. Now that the London Olympics are concluded, he's been hired on as the Head of Values at the BBC, and W1A is a satirical look at how the BBC is run and how its staff deal with everything thrown their way. Jonathan Bailey plays Jack Patterson, a personal assistant to the Head of Output Anna Rampton (despite the rules against any BBC employees having their own PAs).

(W1A via BBC Two)

 

Bridgerton (2020—2024)

If there's one series that truly put Jonathan Bailey on the map for American audiences, it's Bridgerton. The regency history romance series is the ultimate escape, combining extravagant visuals with a dash of witty gossip and extra steamy romance, complete with a diverse cast of gorgeous people. Jonathan Bailey plays Anthony Bridgerton, the oldest son of the family. Fans will be especially interested in the second season of the series, following the enemies-to-lovers story of Anthony and Kate Sharma (played by Simone Ashley). When Anthony pursues Kate's younger sister, Edwina, Kate is appalled to learn that he's interested in marrying only for status, rather than love. The two instantly butt heads, equally headstrong and driven, and sparks fly. When he finally does propose to Edwina, despite falling in love with Kate, they're both left hurt and yearning. How will things right themselves to finally bring this loving couple together?

(Bridgerton via Netflix)

 

Fellow Travelers (2023)

Want to hear Jonathan Bailey's American accent? The 2023 miniseries Fellow Travelers is a political thriller, as well as a queer romance story, starring Jonathan as Tim Laughlin and Matt Bomer as Hawk Fuller. The story begins in the 1950s, at the height of McCarthyism, with the two leads meeting and beginning a secret romance. It's a paranoid time, and the two must conceal their relationship before eventually parting ways. Life leads them in two different directions, and as time marches as, all the way into the early '90s, we see how their decisions have taken them so far away from the lives they might have led.

(Fellow Travelers via Showtime)

 

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Wicked (2024)

Last year's smash hit Wicked was yet another role that made audiences around the world all in love with Jonathan Bailey. This magical, musical retelling of The Wizard of Oz paints its characters in a brand new light, revealing that the story we know and love might not be the full truth and that "The Wicked Witch of the West" is not what she seems. Jonathan Bailey plays Fiyero Tigelaar, an outgoing and popular transfer student who sees Elphaba for her true self, showing off his wonderful singing voice in the process. We don't want to say too much, but his role will be a little different in the eagerly anticipated sequel, Wicked: For Good, which hits theaters on Nov. 21.

(Wicked via Universal Pictures)

 

Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)

In one of his most high-profile roles yet, Jonathan also appeared in the latest Jurassic World movie, subtitled Rebirth. In the wake of the Jurassic World films that preceded it, the world's remaining dinosaurs live in the warm climates around the equator. Jonathan plays Dr. Henry Loomis, a paleontologist recruited to help on an expedition to extract DNA from living dinosaurs for a ground-breaking treatment against heart disease.

(Jurassic World: Rebirth via Universal Pictures)

 

Loved David Corenswet in Superman? Click HERE to discover even more of his roles you'll want to check out.