‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Fellow Traveler’s star Jonathan Bailey.
Jonathan Baileycould have gone in any direction after his runaway success as the male romantic lead inBridgerton’ssecond season.
But choosing to play a gay man oppositeMatt Bomerin Showtime’sFellow Travelers,another romantic period drama — this one spanning the 1950s Joseph McCarthy communist trials to the 1980s AIDS crisis — was a “no-brainer” for the British actor.
“I had looked for these gay stories, a sweeping gay love story, and I hadn’t really seen them,” Bailey, 35, tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “This ticked every single box, and it’s something I know I’ll be proud of for the rest of my career.”
‘Bridgerton’ stars Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey.Liam Daniel/Netflix/courtesy everett collection
Liam Daniel/Netflix/courtesy everett collection
“Having always waited for auditions and projects to come, I just have that footing now to have choices, which is incredible and so special, because it’s not a very common thing,” he says. “I have a responsibility therefore not to waste that.”
The actor was 11 when he realized he might be gay, and he sought refuge in his family, the theater and his best friend.
Jonathan Bailey.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis/Getty
“It’s a pretty common story that school is terrifying, especially in a world where people don’t understand or the teachers and children don’t understand LGBTQ+ identities and experiences,” he shares. “But the superpower of being on the outside looking in means that when you’re older, you are drawn to storytelling and creatives who are singular and exciting. And I think queer people have a real strength to them, which could be celebrated.”
Fellow Travelerscertainly celebrates the LGBTQ+ community through its ambitious, decades-long narrative and queer stars. The biggest, most exciting draw for Bailey was his character Tim Laughlin’s “expansive arc,” evolving from a closeted political staffer in the 1950s to an out-and-proud activist in the 1980s.
Jonathan Bailey and Matt Bomer in ‘Fellow Travelers.'.Courtesy of SHOWTIME
Courtesy of SHOWTIME
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Working alongside Bomer, 46, helped Bailey bringFellow Travelersto life.
Bomer, who also served as an executive producer onFellow Travelers, was “a total joy” to work with, recalls Bailey, who meshed well with theWhite Collaractor right from the start — from their Zoom screen test to their “pregame coffee” five days before they began shooting.
“We both had quite a lot of experience in our careers of intimacy and portraying intimacy, but there’s also just so much we’ve experienced as gay men, as well. So naturally, we had a lot to explore,” he says, adding, “To honor the canon of gay storytelling is totally what I set out to do. So if it [Fellow Travelers] is ‘up there,’ then I’m really happy.”
For more on Jonathan Bailey, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribehere.
Fellow Travelersairs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.
source: people.com
