Rise to Fame
A child actor who played Gavroche in West End Les Miserables at 8, he spent years building credentials on British stages that most American audiences would never see. The Donmar, the National, an Olivier Award for Company in 2019. Then Netflix made him Anthony Bridgerton and the rest of the world caught up. Season 2 centered entirely on his character, made the show its biggest season yet, and turned him into the kind of actor who gets offered blockbusters just for showing up.
In the Spotlight
Between Fellow Travelers, Wicked, and Season 3 of Bridgerton, he spent roughly two years filming three major productions simultaneously, flying between sets. Fellow Travelers earned him an Emmy nomination and a Critics' Choice win. Wicked was one of 2024's biggest films. In 2025, he became People's Sexiest Man Alive, the first openly gay man to hold the title. The industry's question has shifted from 'when is he going to break through' to 'which projects does he turn down.'
Side Notes
He came out publicly in 2018, four years before Bridgerton made him famous. Industry figures had warned him it would cost him roles. A teacher had once called him an anti-gay slur in class. He's said going public freed something he'd been spending too much energy suppressing, and that it made him a better actor. In 2024, he founded The Shameless Fund, an LGBTQ+ charity. The career he was warned he'd sacrifice turned out to be the biggest one he could have had.