As the adage goes, comparison is the thief of joy. But if you do aspire to look like anyone, then Jonathan Bailey is probably a fair shout. The British actor has just been named as the sexiest man in the world for 2025 by People magazine. He has recently graced our screens in films and TV shows such as Wicked, Jurassic World: Rebirth and Bridgerton.
Bailey has often showed off his lean physique both while acting and on social media. The 37-year-old has certainly worked hard to get in impressive shape. He hasn’t just stuck to one method, though. Instead, he prefers a varied approach to training and in order to maintain his frame.
Everything Jonathan Bailey Does to Stay in Shape
Arguably, the most defining feature of Bailey’s physique is his quads. This became apparent on a press tour of Sydney for Wicked last year. Standing in front of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, wearing loafers and some short shorts, the definition in Bailey’s legs caught everyone’s eye.
He credits his muscle to a range of different sports and disciplines, with rugby, dancing, tennis and squatting all playing a part in his routine through the years. ‘I played rugby growing up, and I play a lot of tennis now,’ he told GQ in 2023. ‘I did ballet for a good few years, and I think the way that the body responds to that and gymnastics, I think, that’s the key. Lots of handstands and deep squats.’
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He added that dancing helped develop strength in his legs. He said kids ‘should be dancing from a very young age. It’s encouraging your sons to dance and do ballet. And…they’ll get bloody good legs in the process.’
That said, Bailey has still used the gym to enhance his physique, gain strength and build muscle. In preparation for playing the titular Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton, Bailey worked with personal trainer Jeff Dobos at Ultimate Performance in Mayfair, London.
‘Getting into the discipline of exercise really helps when you have a long gruelling schedule,’ Bailey told Glamour. ‘So exercising and getting ready for a role is more of a mental thing as well as a literal physical thing. Of course, it does bleed into your everyday life. When you’re trying to sustain something for nine months, you go through different barriers in terms of what is healthy and what isn’t.’
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Now, Bailey has started to prioritise his recovery as much as his training. He is paying close attention to his nutrition and sleep. ‘This season required a lot of staying calm and steady and ready. It’s kept me on my toes. I got really fit, I made sure to eat well and get loads of sleep. Everything else just seemed to fall into place,’ he told themovieculture.com ahead of the second season of Bridgerton.
This article by Ryan Dabbs appeared on Men’s Health UK
