Jonathan Bailey needs no introduction. After coming into the mainstream by starring in the famous Regency-era English drama Bridgerton, the actor’s performance speaks for itself how much of an incredible performer he is. Last seen in Fellow Travelers, the actor has been putting on one incredible performance after the other.
However, it was over a decade ago, that his incredible acting range and an unstoppable supply of confidence became known in the film industry. At least that is what Indiana Jones 5 star, Phoebe Waller-Bridge felt when she first met him. Totally taken aback by his ‘needs’ and ‘freedom’, the actress-screenwriter was quick to have him star in her show Crashing.
When Jonathan Bailey Shocked Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is an amazing actress and screenwriter herself. Despite being only 38 years old, the Indiana Jones 5 star has already proven that in this largely male-dominated industry (see Fortune), she is a force to be reckoned with. But even an A-lister like herself can be shooketh and awestruck, by an actor like Jonathan Bailey.
A Shakespearean child actor, the Bridgerton star has been a part of numerous movies and plays, each time leaving the audience charmed and intrigued. Back over a decade ago, the actor secured an audition for Waller-Bridge’s series Crashing and left the screenwriter totally in shock.
While talking to Bailey during an interview for Interview Magazine, the actress stated to him,
“I remember your audition. You came in like a fireball and you already felt like you had a Sam energy. You sat in your chair, took out your script from your bag, and then you were like, ‘Give me a second,’ and you laid out your script around you on the floor. You had no embarrassment about what you needed or in front of you. You didn’t actually refer to it again, but you took those few seconds to just completely set up what you exactly needed for that audition, and then you were so free.”
And that was how the actor made the Indiana Jones 5 star taken aback, although he feels he cannot be as confident and free if his ‘needs’ are not met.
Jonathan Bailey And His ‘Needs’ To Give A Wonderful Performance
It seems an actor as brilliant as Jonathan Bailey, who already has more than enough experience of being on the stage, would find it effortless to slip into character. But the actor, while talking to his Crashing co-star Phoebe Waller-Bridge for Interview Magazine, revealed what he ‘needs’ to deliver an excellent performance.
“I’ve got three older sisters and I wonder if they are a structure. I’ve definitely been in environments where I don’t feel free, and then you give the worst performance of your life. What I’ve found in the last few years is that, of course, you have to adapt so quickly to work out what you need in order to be able to be free. I think if I don’t have the equivalent of that on the floor, I panic or get really scared.”
And that is how the actor manages to be as authentic as he is, serving as an inspiring testament when it comes to achieving artistic excellence. While he works hard to bring authenticity to his many roles, his efforts have always borne fruit, leaving the audience in awe everytime he takes the stage.
Crashing can be streamed on Max.
