Why Jonathan Bailey Skipped the Oscars: A Big Stage and Bigger Responsibilities

So, guess who wasn’t making his grand entrance at the 2025 Oscars? None other than Jonathan Bailey, the dashing star of “Wicked” who was a no-show despite the film racking up an impressive ten nominations. But fear not, fans! The reason for his absence was as noble as it gets. The man was busy shining on stage in England, portraying the titular role in Shakespeare’s “Richard II.” Talk about commitment! Jeff Goldblum, Bailey’s co-star, spilled the beans to E! News, praising his talent while also giving us the scoop: “He’s on stage right now… He’s a masterful, eighth-degree black belt actor.” High praise from Goldblum, right?

And it doesn’t stop there! Bailey’s plate is packed as he’s also gearing up to lead the upcoming “Jurassic World Rebirth,” set to hit theaters in June 2025. Goldblum, who’s also involved, cheekily admitted he’ll be “the first person in line” to snag tickets, which just goes to show the love on set. As for “Wicked,” it snagged nominations for Best Supporting Actress, Costume Design, and more, with co-stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo strutting their stuff on the red carpet, while Bailey was busy channeling his inner king.

This wasn’t just an Oscars skip; Bailey also missed the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, leaving fans to wonder why he was dodging so many awards shows. Despite nominations for Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role for “Wicked” and for the ensemble cast of “Bridgerton,” he chose the stage over the spotlight. It seems Bailey is all about those deep theater roots, which he and Grande reflected on during a fun chat about their giggly chemistry on set, comparing their antics to “carbonated energy.”

While he’s busy prepping for “Richard II,” Bailey’s channeling the vibes from “Succession,” drawing inspiration from the power dynamics of Logan Roy and his kids. He noted, “It explores inherited power in a very similar way to ‘Succession.’” So, while he might have missed the glitz of the Oscars, Bailey is certainly making waves on stage and screen.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, E! News, BBC

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