Film

Jurassic World: Rebirth’s Jonathan Bailey feels pressure to be ‘excellent’ as a gay leading man

Jun 19
Written by Alastair James

Jonathan Bailey attends the Jurassic World Rebirth World Premiere in London (Kate Green/Getty Images)

Jurassic World: Rebirth star Jonathan Bailey has spoken about the pressure he feels to be “excellent” as an out gay actor in a leading Hollywood role.

Bailey will soon be seen as palaeontologist Dr Henry Loomis, wearing his “slutty little glasses”, in the latest instalment of the dinosaur films.

It’s the latest in a number of on-screen leading roles for the actor, following Bridgerton and Fellow Travelers. He’s also been seen treading the boards in Richard II and Cock, and won an Olivier Award for his performance in the musical, Company.

But speaking to The Hollywood Reporter ahead of the premiere of Jurassic World: Rebirth, Bailey recognised that “being an out gay actor meant, historically, you wouldn’t be able to play straight and there weren’t any gay parts to play, anyway”.

Celebrating that things are “massively” different today than even just 10 years ago, Bailey admitted that he was aware of how significant it is to be co-leading a Hollywood blockbuster.

“There [are] moments where, yes, you have to be excellent to prove that you can do it,” he said. “And it’s not like I haven’t felt that. There’s the weight of history and [the] endless brilliant people who have come before you who have changed the way people see sexuality.”

Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson in Jurassic World Rebirth — Jonathan Bailey stars alongside Scarlett Johansson in *Jurassic World: Rebirth.* (Universal Pictures)

And in an age where there are still conversations about who can play what roles, Bailey added: “Any sort of sense of prejudice against sexuality is something to fight against, and what better way to do that than to go and play any kind of character.”

Asked about Bailey’s star power, a studio executive told The Hollywood Reporter they were “not sure he can carry a movie on his own yet, but love him and want to see him in more and I am hopeful he becomes a star”.

It’s a disappointing belief, given Bailey’s strong lists of credits and PinkNews can think of many people who would disagree. The star has sent fans into a frenzy by promoting the film in his “slutty little glasses” and has been “thrilled” by their effect.