TL;DR
- Jonathan Bailey is taking a break from acting after years of nonstop work.
- He’ll focus on The Shameless Fund, his LGBTQ+ charity.
- Bailey says queer causes get shockingly little funding in the UK.
- He rose to fame in Bridgerton and starred in Fellow Travelers and Wicked.
- Bailey wants to use art to drive donations and awareness for LGBTQ+ initiatives.
Jonathan Bailey Steps Offstage to Champion LGBTQ+ Causes
After years of dazzling on screens and stages, Jonathan Bailey is hitting pause — not out of burnout, but out of purpose. The actor, who became a global heartthrob thanks to his turn as Anthony Bridgerton in the hit series Bridgerton, announced he’s stepping back from acting to focus on The Shameless Fund, an LGBTQ+ charity he launched in 2024.
“I’ve been working solidly for about three years now, which has been amazing and mind-blowing,” Bailey told British GQ. But with what he calls “everything happening in the world right now,” he says the applause can wait. “I’m going to stop acting for a bit next year and just focus on the Shameless Fund.”
The charity’s mission is as audacious as its name — and Bailey isn’t mincing words about why it matters. “There’s this statistic: out of every £100 raised in the UK, only 1p goes to the LGBTQ+ community,” he said. “You really have to dig to find solutions, and I genuinely think The Shameless Fund is exactly that.”
From Star Power to Social Power
Bailey’s acting résumé reads like a pop culture buffet: after stealing scenes as the Viscount in Bridgerton, he turned heads opposite Matt Bomer in Fellow Travelers — a performance that earned them both Emmy nods. He’s leapt from the West End to the silver screen, playing Fiyero in Wicked and sharing laughs (and rumored dance-offs) with Scarlett Johansson on the set of Jurassic World Rebirth.
But despite the Hollywood dazzle, Bailey has his eyes on something deeper. When he first launched the Shameless Fund, he told Vogue, “There are so many amazing people who are on the frontline. They’re the real heroes that are working for organizations, and charities, and initiatives, which can speak to so many specific groups of people.” His idea? Instead of begging for donations, create experiences — art, performances, collaborations — that inspire people to give.
A Win for LGBTQ+ Visibility
Bailey’s pivot is more than just a career choice — it’s a bold statement about the power of queer visibility and giving back. For LGBTQ+ communities that still battle for funding and representation, having a star of Bailey’s magnitude throw his weight behind the cause sends a powerful message: success means lifting others up, not just basking in the spotlight.
His break from acting could ripple far beyond the red carpet. If The Shameless Fund proves successful, it could help close the funding gap that has long left LGBTQ+ initiatives scrambling for scraps. It’s a reminder that pride isn’t just a parade — it’s also about creating lasting support systems.
So while Bailey may be exiting stage left for now, make no mistake — he’s stepping into an even bigger role.