Spoilers below.
What was the Jonathan Bailey moment in Wicked that did it for you? Was it his exaggerated stride into the Shiz University campus? The way he gazed upon Elphaba in the forest? His rapid delivery of “believe me, ivebeenkickedoutofenoughofthem to knoooooow”? The way he gently kissed the school librarian on the forehead? Whatever it was, viewers are utterly bewitched.
This wouldn’t be the first time Bailey has had an audience wrapped around his finger, either. After all, this is the same man who played Anthony Bridgerton with a searing passion and iconically said, “You are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires.” And after his Emmy-nominated performance opposite Matt Bomer in Fellow Travelers, it should be clear: He knows how to sweep someone off their feet. But in Wicked, there is some downright sorcery in Bailey’s performance as Fiyero Tigelaar. It is so potent, so palpable, so invigorating, so borderline dangerous that it has somehow rewired our brains and made it difficult to return to daily life. It needs to be studied. It’s only right that we hold space and feel the power in that.
While Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are the rightful stars of the movie musical, Bailey is a scene-stealer as the suave, hedonistic prince from Winkie Country. His immediate flirtation with Grande’s Glinda is sure to make one blush, and his initial sparks with Erivo’s Elphaba could set hearts racing. In both cases, he has so much chemistry with his scene partners (even his horse, whom he’s worked with before on Bridgerton), it’s almost impossible to comprehend.
But his shining moment is “Dancing Through Life,” a big, flashy musical number in the Shiz library where he inspires his fellow students to care less. Here, dear reader, is where Bailey really lets loose and turns his charm on full blast: He’s dancing on tables and hanging upside down in a giant spinning wheel; stomping, spinning, and flipping with a joyful ferocity; gliding across the floor atop open books; flirting with every girl and boy who meets his gaze; swaying his hips and throwing his arms open wide like this is the greatest day of his life—all with smooth, rich vocals that pay homage to the original Fiyero, Norbert Leo Butz.
Bailey had big boots to fill in this tricky role. Fiyero is inexplicably handsome and smooth but can’t be too cocky; he’s shallow but not a total airheaded himbo; rebellious but not chaotic. As Wicked: Part Two will show, he plays a big part in Oz’s history. Plus, like many other elements of the musical, casting this bona fide theater heartthrob incorrectly would’ve caused uproar—he has fans. According to Spotify, in the week leading up to the film’s premiere, streams of “Dancing Through Life” from the original Broadway soundtrack grew by 83 percent globally and 90 percent in the U.S. (To date, Bailey’s version has over 2.3 million streams.) And yet, all things considered, Bailey slips into the character like it was made for him. Director Jon M. Chu described his casting as “perfect.”
Much of that sizzling charisma is likely due to Bailey’s background onstage. The British actor won an Olivier Award for best supporting actor in the revival of Company on the West End. (Watch him sing “Not Getting Married” with crazy breath control and you’ll easily see why.) Before that, he starred as Jamie opposite Samantha Barks in The Last Five Years. (Have you seen his audition?) Next year, he’ll take on the role of Richard II—and this isn’t even his first Shakespeare gig, following runs in King Lear and Othello. Even Stephen Sondheim was said to be in awe of him.
So, when viewers are seeing Bailey in Wicked, they’re really seeing all of the above. In the mildest cases, they are delighted; in the most extreme, they’ve turned downright feral. Twitter (formerly known as X) feeds and For You Pages have become flooded with praise or unbearable thirst. The responses almost beg the question: Is it possible for someone to be so good, so effortlessly? Are we sure this is allowed? Is it even legal? Can we handle it as a society?
Whatever it is, we need more of it onscreen. If Wicked paves a yellow brick road for Bailey into more leading man roles, we are all for it. And if it leads to more charming, theatrical roles from men in Hollywood, we’re all for that too.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she’s listening to Lorde right now.