NEED TO KNOW
Jonathan Bailey gave his family — and a packed movie theater — a moment they’ll never forget.
On Sunday, Nov. 23, the Bridgerton star surprised his sister, brother-in-law and two nieces at a special screening of Wicked: For Good in Sydney, Australia. PEOPLE’s 2025 Sexiest Man Alive, 37, who appears in the film as Fiyero, quietly slipped into the theater before picking up a microphone and standing before the audience.
“I’m here to surprise my sister who’s over here and my two nieces, and her husband,” Bailey announced, prompting gasps and cheers throughout the room. “And I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to watch it with you.” The crowd burst into applause before Bailey added with a warm smile, “Enjoy the film.”
Neil Mockford/FilmMagic
In a video captured by Storyful, Bailey then jogged down the aisle with his arms stretched wide. His sister instantly stood to greet him, breaking into a huge grin as he wrapped her in a tight embrace. The siblings rocked back and forth as the theater erupted into more cheers, with several audience members audibly swooning over the tender moment.
The Emmy nominee was dressed casually in a plain white T-shirt with jeans and a blue baseball cap. His sister wore a loose-fitting black halter tank top with matching black pants.
It was a heartwarming reunion that highlighted Bailey’s close relationship with his tight-knit family. The actor has two sisters, Katie and Genevieve, and has spoken in past interviews about how meaningful they’ve been in his life. His nieces, in particular, have played a special role in his connection to Wicked, a story they grew up listening to and loving.
Earlier this month, Bailey recalled crying while sitting with his niece at the Wicked: For Good’s premiere in London.
“I was there with my family and all my school friends and my niece was there. I was just watching her sit there and she was just completely taking it in, and I started crying and I couldn’t stop,” Bailey said during his Nov. 19 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
“Actors are only [present] for like 15 percent of making these extraordinary films, so when you think of [director] Jon M. Chu and [producer] Marc Platt, who has stuck with this for over 15 years, for me it’s been three years,” he added. “That London premiere felt like a real release, and I’m just so proud that now everyone gets to go and experience it.”
In his Sexiest Man Alive interview published earlier this month, Bailey told PEOPLE that his family helps keep him grounded amid the whirlwind of fame.
“Beyond watching my own work, in a good way I get moved to tears by family quite a lot,” he confessed. “Like my niece was pupil of the week, and I was just so proud of her. And she’s the eldest of the next gen of Baileys. And that made me well up. In fact, all my sisters, when they send pictures of their kids — I do find family does make me really emotional.”
