Jonathan Bailey has great mentor in Sir Ian McKellen

Jonathan Bailey “couldn’t wish for” a better mentor than his ‘King Lear’ co-star Sir Ian McKellen.

Jonathan Bailey “couldn’t wish for” a better mentor than Sir Ian McKellen.

The ‘Wicked’ actor struck up a bond with the ‘Lord of the Rings’ star when they worked together in a stage production of ‘King Lear’ in 2017 and he’ll always be grateful for the subsequent advice and guidance he’s been offered by the screen legend.

He told Vanity Fair magazine’s Hollywood issue: “Ian McKellen was wildly amazing, and I did ‘King Lear’ with him. He was one of the first people to come to see me when I did ‘Cock’ on the West End, and we went for a drink afterwards.

“He was so clear about how it might play out, and should it play out that way, what to be excited about and what to be aware of. I couldn’t wish for a better role model.”

The 36-year-old actor has found he gets recognised increasingly more when out in public and though it can be “amazing”, he admitted it has taken some getting used to.

He said: “It’s funny – obviously, you do get recognised, but the ‘Bridgerton’ of it all is really interesting, because it’s one thing to be on a show that is national, but I feel like I was more recognized outside of the UK than in the UK.

“It takes time to adjust to, it really does. It’s not an easy thing, but it also is amazing.”

Meanwhile, Jonathan also admitted to an unusual party trick – his “dexterous toes”.

He said: “Nothing about this goes well…I just remember entertaining my sisters by being able to pick things up with my toes, but like a monkey. But we probably don’t need to put that in writing.”

The ‘Fellow Travelers’ actor also confessed to being “quite naughty”.

He said: “I’m not a rule breaker, I just don’t really adhere. Do you know what I mean? If someone says, don’t do that, I won’t not do it. Probably people would always have said I was probably quite naughty.”