Jonathan Bailey Shares Candid Response to Having Kids Someday: ‘It’s Such a Privilege, Isn’t It?’

Jonathan Bailey is opening up about the possibility of becoming a father.

During an interview for the winter issue of Esquire UK, which is out on Thursday, Nov. 13, the Wicked star, 37, shared that it’s something he’s considered — one day.

“There’s obviously loads of kids that could really benefit from love and support,” he said. “I have the absolute privilege of being a gay man — there’s no biological clock. It’s such a privilege, isn’t it, to even be able to have a kid? So, I’m aware of it as an idea, as a concept, but it doesn’t feel very loud in my head at the moment.”

The Bridgerton actor previously told PEOPLE that the idea of starting a family is still definitely something he’s thought about. 

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“If the planets align, for sure,” Bailey said of wanting to step into fatherhood. “I feel like in the world that we live in now, everyone’s going to need a bit of guidance. Although, I’d be terrible at getting them through university. And they would not be able to speak another language. But maybe they will, and that’s how I’ll learn.”

In the meantime, Bailey has had his hands full with another important duty: serving as PEOPLE’s 2025 Sexiest Man Alive. The actor is also the first openly gay man to have received the honor. 

“There’s nothing sexier than progress,” he told Forbes on Nov. 7. “Of course, there was no way I wasn’t going to step into that corner this year, when the opportunity arose.”

“There’s something about knowing when that invitation came in, it’s amazing to be able to accept it without a second thought, knowing that it’s meaningful and impactful, as well as just an incredible and hilarious honor,” he continued, noting he’s excited to see how the title can help the LGBTQ+ community. “It’s not lost on me at all.”

“I know what it means, you know, for me — for little me — and also, for a lot of people out there,” Bailey added. “It’s a celebratory moment for a lot of people.”