Bridgerton heartthrob Jonathan Bailey has said that being able to hold hands with his boyfriend in public is more important than landing any role on screen.
The actor, 33, is best known as Anthony Bridgerton - the eldest sibling of the titular family - in the hugely-successful Netflix period drama, which debuted in 2020.
His character is set to be the lead in the show's highly-anticipated second season, which will be released on the streaming service in two weeks on March 25th.
And whilst it features plenty of gossip about relationships, Jonathan - who is said to identify as gay - has managed to keep much of his personal life private in his career.
Jonathan - who is said to have come out to his family and friends in his early 20s - opened up about his experiences during an interview in the latest edition of GQ Hype.
He opened up about how he had felt pressured to hide his sexuality so that he could land acting roles after receiving some advice.
The actor recited to the outlet: "There's two things we don't want to know: if you're an alcoholic or if you're gay."
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He said that such a comment "ripples through," with him admitting that it weighed on his mind. He said: "Of course I thought that in order to be happy I needed to be straight."
Jonathan however later decided to put his own happiness before concern for his career, with him no longer afraid to discuss his sexuality in interviews.
The Olivier Award winner said that he "reached a point" where his attitude became "f*** this," with him deciding to prioritise being open over securing projects.
He said: "I'd much prefer to hold my boyfriend's hand in public or be able to put my own face picture on Tinder and not be so concerned about that, than get a part."
Jonathan is best known for his role in Bridgerton. His character, Anthony, is the head of the titular family, with him set to be the focus of its highly-anticipated second season.
His other acting credits include roles in Broadchurch, W1A and Crashing. He has appeared in various stage productions over the years, notably The Last Five Years and Company.
Bridgerton returns to Netflix for its second season on March 25. Read the full interview with Jonathan Bailey in GQ Hype.
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