Jonathan Bailey has addressed the rumours about his supposed temporary retirement, explaining the misunderstanding that sparked headlines worldwide.
Jonathan Bailey is not quitting acting. The British actor, recently named People’s “Sexiest Man Alive”, has clarified the confusion that arose after an interview appeared to suggest he was taking an indefinite break from his career.
Speaking to Esquire UK, the ‘Wicked‘ and ‘Bridgerton‘ star explained the source of the error: “I was doing an interview while cycling between Rome and Pisa on my way to a friend’s wedding, and the internet kept cutting out. As a result, there was an unfortunate misquote that said I’d stopped acting for a bit. What I actually meant was: ‘Next year I’ll be back.’ But yes, the ripple effect was extraordinary.”
Bailey made it clear that he intends to take a short break, not retire. His goal is to dedicate more time to his charity work with The Shameless Fund, an organisation raising funds for non-profits and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. “By Monday, the headlines were already saying: ‘Jonathan Bailey has quit acting.’ That’s when I realised you can’t control it.”
The actor, who has just wrapped filming on Wicked: For Good, confirmed that he won’t be taking the whole year off: “As it stands now, I’ll definitely be back to work next year. I’m not taking all of 2026 off.”
Even so, any new project he films in 2026 is unlikely to reach screens until 2027 or later. With this clarification, Bailey puts an end to the rumours and reaffirms his commitment to acting—balancing his career with a more humanitarian and mindful purpose.
