beyond measure

From playing Anthony in Bridgerton to Fiyero in Wicked, Jonathan Bailey has nailed the art of portraying regal characters.

The trend continues as he now takes on the role of Shakespeare's Richard II at the Bridge Theatre in London.

He tells the BBC that his portrayal of the authoritarian king who ruled in the 1300s was inspired by HBO's Succession, which explores the power struggle between the children of media mogul Logan Roy.

"I channelled many Roys," Bailey explains, adding that Richard II "explores inherited power in a very similar way to Succession but also expands on it and takes it to a new level".

The first of Shakespeare's history plays, Richard II sees the unlikeable and corrupt king be usurped by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke who goes on to become Henry IV.

Directed by Nicholas Hytner, the modern-dress production sees Bailey as a cocaine-snorting and camp king.

The 36-year-old said he chose to take on the role of Richard II as there was "so much to explore with his character".

"It's a feast of a play and really speaks to our times - it's fascinating to explore a king who has a cast iron right to rule."

Newer fans of Bailey may not realise that he is first and foremost a theatre actor.

In 2013, he played Cassio in Hytner's Othello at the National Theatre and has also performed alongside Ian McKellen in King Lear.

Productions of Shakespeare's plays rarely have a large audience of young women, but Bailey's appeal among that demographic seems to have inspired them to visit the theatre.

"It makes me so happy to inspire a new generation of young people coming to the theatre," he says.

"If 10 people per show come and see Shakespeare for the first time then I'm doing something right."

hello you lovely lot🥰 it’s been a whileeee since i’ve done one of these but rest assured i have been writing but something i couldn’t share snippets of but all will be revealed very soon at the @anywhere-with-you-event

but now it’s back to the bridgerton boys and i’ve missed themmmmm🥹🥹 and i couldn’t welcome them back without a bang🔥

thank you @jmagnabo92 and @firstprincehornyramblings for the tags✨

Henry’s fairly quiet, still clearly entrapped in sleep.

Alex takes a breath and then his mouth is physically on him. Swallowing him down whole as he takes Henry in his mouth, his tongue licking up his shaft and sucking like a predator latching on to its prey.

He becomes even more aroused by the soft moans that are coming from Henry above him. He groans animalistically when he feels Henry swell inside of him, stretching his lips over as he willingly takes him all in like he’ll be his only meal.

Then, he hears Henry start to stir, emerging from sleep as his hand flies into Alex’s black unruly curls, his fingernails grazing against his scalp.

Henry hums satisfyingly, “Good morning to you too.”

Alex peers up at him, fluttering his eyelashes that he knows sends Henry weak at the knees. But when he sees that Henry is looking down at him, his arm still under his head, his eyes still sleepy but also hooded, and half of his mouth is pulled into the sexiest smirk, his cock violently twitches.

“Good morning sweetheart,” is what Alex says— oh so innocently— whilst his lips hover over Henry’s bellend. “How did you sleep?”

Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in “Oceans Apart” (Bridgerton - 1x07)