The Best Reactions to Jonathan Bailey in ‘Wicked’

On November 27, 2024By Littum

Spoilers below.

What was the Jonathan Bailey moment in Evil did it for you? Was that his exaggerated step into the Shiz University campus? How he looked at Elphaba in the forest? His quick delivery of “trust me, i’ve been kicked out by enough of them to knoooooow”? The way he gently kissed the school librarian on the forehead? Whatever it was, viewers are completely bewitched.

It also wouldn’t be the first time Bailey has had an audience wrapped around his finger. After all, this is the same man who played Anthony Bridgerton with a burning passion and iconic 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 travelersit should be clear: He knows how to sweep someone off their feet. But in Evilthere is some downright wizardry 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 everyday life. It must be studied. It is only right that we hold space and feel the power of it.

While Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are the rightful stars of the film’s musical, Bailey is a scene-stealer as the suave, hedonistic prince of Winkie Country. His immediate flirtation with Grande’s Glinda is sure to make one blush, and his first sparks with Erivo’s Elphaba could set hearts aflutter. In both cases, he has so much chemistry with his scene partners (even his horse, which he has worked with before Bridgerton), it is almost impossible to understand.

But his shining moment is “Dancing Through Life,” a big, flashy musical number in the Shiz library where he inspires his fellow students to worry less. This, dear reader, is where Bailey really lets loose and turns his charm on full blast: He dances on tables and hangs upside down from a giant spinning wheel; stomp, twirl and turn with a joyful ferocity; sliding across the floor on top of open books; flirting with every girl and boy who meets his gaze; swaying his hips and throwing his arms wide open like this is the greatest day of his life – all with smooth, rich vocals paying homage to the original Fiyero, Norbert Leo Butz.

Bailey had big boots to fill in this difficult role. Fiyero is inexplicably beautiful and smooth, but can’t be also cocky; he’s shallow but not a total airhead himbo; rebellious but not chaotic. Seam Wicked: Part Two will show, he plays a large part in the history of Oz. In addition, like many other elements in the musical, it would have caused an uproar – he has fans. According to Spotify, streams of “Dancing Through Life” from the original Broadway soundtrack grew in the week leading up to the film’s premiere 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 as if 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 on stage. 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 takes on the role of Richard II– and this isn’t even his first Shakespeare performance to follow King Lear and Othello. Even Stephen Sondheim was said to be in awe of him.

So when viewers see Bailey inside Evilthey really see all of the above. In the mildest cases they rejoice; in the most extreme they have turned downright wild. Twitter (formerly known as X) feeds and For You pages have been flooded with praise or unbearable thirst. The answers almost beg the question: Is it possible for someone to be this good, this effortless? 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 on screen. If Evil paves a yellow brick road for Bailey to more leading man roles, we’re all for it. And if it leads to more charming, theatrical roles from men in Hollywood, we’re all for it, too.

Erica Gonzales is Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, film, music, books and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There’s a 75 percent chance she’s listening to Lorde right now.