Jonathan Bailey Delights Fans with Surprise Appearance in Sydney

Jonathan Bailey made a surprise appearance in Sydney yesterday (23rd November), prompting cheers from cinema-goers on Sunday night after the British actor walked unannounced onto the stage of an IMAX screening of Wicked: For Good. His arrival, just hours after landing in Australia, caught the packed audience entirely off guard.

The event at Darling Harbour had been introduced by radio presenter Kent Small, who hinted at an unexpected guest before telling the crowd he had “found someone outside the cinema” worth bringing in. When he invited “Fiyero, Jonathan Bailey” to the stage, the room erupted as the actor emerged smiling from behind the curtains.

Jonathan Bailey later shared a short video on social media explaining that he had flown into Sydney earlier the same day and decided to return to what he affectionately described as “the real land of Oz”, a nod to the city where promotional work for the first film in the series began. He added that he wanted to conclude the latest leg of the press tour “back where it started”.

The actor also mentioned that members of his family were visiting Australia and that he had surprised them at an earlier screening before heading to IMAX. Speaking about the venue, he joked that the auditorium featured “the fourth biggest screen in the Southern Hemisphere”, adding that he was eager to join audiences for the evening.

Bailey has had a prominent year, recently being named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive. He learnt of the announcement while appearing on a late-night programme in the United States and responded with characteristic humour. Asked about the accolade, he said it was “an honour”, adding that he hoped it might influence “how people treat me”.

His rise to global recognition began in 2020 with his role as Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix’s hit period drama Bridgerton. Bailey’s early stage work, rooted in Britain’s classical theatre scene, has long been associated with the Royal Shakespeare Company, whose productions continue to influence many of today’s leading screen actors. Since then he has broadened his screen work, playing Prince Fiyero alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked, and preparing for the release of Jurassic World: Rebirth, expected next year.

Bailey’s brief appearance, delivered with little fanfare, was met with warmth from an audience who clearly did not expect Hollywood’s newest leading man to appear at their Sunday night cinema trip.

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[Image Credit | people.com]

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