Jonathan Bailey’s Full Dating History and Past Girlfriends

On By Littum

Bridgerton‘s Jonathan Bailey has electric chemistry with pretty much everyone he’s paired with on screen. Season two of the hit Netflix series showed him and Simone Ashley falling in love in a passionate love that launched a thousand GIFs across social media. Fans also shipped him with actor Matt Bomer after seeing them together in the miniseries Fellow travelers. The man just knows how to look like he’s falling in love.

But as far as anyone knows, Bailey hasn’t dated any of her co-stars. He has spoken about his sexuality and struggles with homophobia in Hollywood, opened up in an interview with GQ in 2022. The Breakdown star said another actor told him there are “two things we don’t want to know: if you’re an alcoholic or if you’re gay.”

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“All it takes is for one of those people in that position of power to say it and it spills over,” Bailey said. ‘So, yes, of course I thought so. Of course I thought that to be happy I had to be straight…I got to a point where I thought, “Fuck this.” I’d much rather hold my girlfriend’s hand in public or be able to put my own face on Tinder and not be so worried about it than get a part.’

bridgerton's simone ashley explosive chemistry with jonathan bailey

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That said, Bailey tends to keep his personal life private. In December 2023, he told Evening Standard that he is dating a ‘nice man’ without naming names.

“It’s not secret, but it’s private,” he explained. ‘Having a private life is absolutely critical for me. I don’t know if I would be able to be as confident in speaking out about other things if I felt like my whole life was on the line.’

Here’s what we know about Jonathan Bailey’s dating life.

James Ellis

the olivier awards 2019 with mastercard after party

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Bailey is believed to be in a relationship with actor James Ellis and dated him around 2019. The rumored couple appeared to confirm their relationship at the Olivier Awards that year, when Bailey won for her role in Company. Before accepting his award, he gave Ellis a kiss.

In his speech, he shared a bit about queer identity and the role of Company in LGBTQ+ storytelling.

“You know, at a time when the very existence of LGBTQ people in our schools is being questioned, we as a company have been able to show a lovely and celebratory snapshot of same-sex love,” Bailey said. ‘That LGBTQ people really aren’t that different. We are not that different. We are just as anxious and we are just as flawed and desperate to fall in love as everyone else. Thanks to the cast, this is for you!’

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