Inside Jonathan Bailey’s Inner Circle: The Surprising Celebrity Friendships You Didn’t See Coming

So, Jonathan Bailey is hitting pause on acting to pour his energy into the Shameless Fund—a nonprofit that’s all about helping LGBTQIA+ folks discover their true selves through creativity. Now, don’t get me wrong, we’ll miss that charming smile lighting up our screens. But honestly? What stings a bit more is the loss of those endearing, candid moments he shares with his co-stars. You know the ones—those behind-the-scenes snapshots that make you feel like you’re right there with them, sharing a laugh or a sweet hug. From Scarlett Johansson’s unexpected public displays of friendship to the giggly camaraderie with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan’s circle is as star-studded as it is heartwarming. Curious how these famous friendships paint a fuller picture of a man stepping back from the limelight? Let’s dive in and see what makes Johnny truly unforgettable off-screen. LEARN MORE

Jonathan Bailey recently announced that he would be taking a break from acting to focus on the Shameless Fund, a nonprofit organization that helps support people in the LGBTQIA+ community find themselves through creativity. And while we will miss seeing his handsome face on our screens, there’s something else that we’re going to miss more. We are, of course, talking about the adorable behind-the-scenes moments he has with his costars. From Scarlett Johansson to Ariana Grande, he is truly adored by everyone, and below, we dive deep into exactly what you need to know about Bailey’s famous friendships. 

Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson

Bailey, 37, and Johansson, 40, grew extremely close on the set of Jurassic World Rebirth, which released earlier this year. However, it wasn’t until the press tour that people noticed how close they really were. 

On various red carpets, the two could be seen kissing each other on the lips and embracing one another, despite Johansson being married to Colin Jost. 

“He’s a lovable guy, what can I say?” the actress told Today show host Craig Melvin. “I don’t know. We’re just friendly people…I’ve got a lot of love to give, what can I say?”

Bailey also commented on the kisses, telling Entertainment Tonight, “I believe in being able to show love in all different ways. And if you can’t kiss your friends … life’s too short not to.” 

Jonathan Bailey, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo

Bailey (who played Fiyero), Grande and Erivo met on the set of the 2024 hit film Wicked. For most of the press tour, however, Grande and Erivo were paired together, so people didn’t get to see the three of them together—until they all started sharing some behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram. 

“We were very giggly together. That was the tough thing with us. We were the giggliest pair. It carbonated our chemistry,” Grande told People last year. “[We ended up] falling for each other as friends in real life, too. That was such a beautiful part of it. We had the most beautiful time.”

Erivo also commented on how lovely Bailey was, saying on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, “Johnny and I had a really wonderful conversation about queerness and what that means for us and how we move through the world in our own queerness.”

“He’s so passionate about making sure that there’s space for all of us… I think it was like an eye-opening conversation because it was the first time I really got to know him, and I really liked that human being.”

Wicked: For Good does come out later this year, and we cannot wait to see what these three say and do this time.

Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley

Given how much chemistry Bailey and Simone Ashley had during Seasons 2 and 3 of Bridgerton, it makes total sense that the two are really good friends off-screen. 

“Johnny was an amazing co-partner to work with,” Ashley told People in March 2022. “We always had each other’s backs and made sure, as much as we were doing our own work and we were on our own journeys, we would always check in with one another and make sure that they were okay.”

The two are set to appear in Season 4 of the hit Netflix Regency-era drama, which is expected to be released at some point in 2026.