Jonathan Bailey opens up about early career anxiety over sexuality

Jonathan Bailey has opened up about the fears he carried early in his career, admitting he once worried that being openly gay could limit the opportunities available to him in the entertainment industry.

The Wicked star said he was aware from the beginning of his acting journey that sexuality could influence casting decisions and audience perceptions, and that he initially believed it “would be a hindrance” to his career prospects.

Speaking during a conversation with Elton John as part of the Elton John Impact Awards podcast series, Jonathan Bailey reflected on the pressure many LGBTQ+ performers face when navigating visibility in the public eye.

“I was well aware of the possibilities and the limits of queer actors and what that means to an audience and whether that bleeds into commerce and how that affects it,” Bailey said. “So yeah, I think when I was in my early twenties, there was definitely an understanding that, to be gay would be a hindrance.”

Despite those concerns, Bailey said he made a conscious decision not to hide his identity, explaining that he refused to change his personal life for the sake of his career.

“I wasn’t gonna not hold my boyfriend’s hand in the street, and that was something that I felt so strongly in an animal sense,” he said. “And of course if that meant that it was gonna impede any potential work, then I was willing to take that risk.”

The 38-year-old actor also reflected on the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in film and television, citing influential works such as Brokeback Mountain as meaningful milestones in shaping cultural acceptance.

Bailey said he hopes future generations of performers will feel less pressure to conceal their identities and instead focus on expressing authenticity and joy through their work.

“I wonder if the next generation just needs to know how to harness the joy that they can communicate to their fans and in the stories they tell,” he said. “And just know that we’re gonna need it more than ever.”

The conversation is part of the Elton John Impact Awards, which celebrate LGBTQ+ trailblazers and allies across entertainment, sports, and activism. This year’s honourees also include Laverne Cox, Melissa Etheridge, Billie Jean King, Orville Peck, and Chappell Roan.

Elton John said the project brings together voices who have shaped LGBTQ+ culture and continue to push for visibility and dignity, adding that the conversations reflect both progress made and challenges still ahead.