Jonathan Bailey has bemoaned the "limiting narratives" that stifle aspiring stars

Jonathan - who is a patron of Just Like Us, a charity that works with LGBT youth in UK schools - told Sky News: "This is beyond sexuality, it's race, it's class, it is where you're from, we are all given limiting narratives that we have to break free of.

"I thought not only was I not going to be able to play these sorts of parts because of my sexuality, but that I wouldn't be able to do Shakespeare because I didn't go to drama school.

"They're the sort of stories that we need to be reminded of is that actually standing up and being safe enough to be able to say who you really are, and to be vulnerable at that age ... these formative years, is inspiring to everyone in the classroom."

Meanwhile, Jonathan previously revealed that he "nearly didn't audition" for Bridgerton.

The actor has starred in the hit Netflix show since 2020 - but Jonathan was actually keen to take a career break before he committed himself to the project.

He told The Hollywood Reporter: "I got sent it and I nearly didn't audition.

"At that time, I was really done. I just needed to go and experience the world."

However, Jonathan's attitude changed completely after he read the script.

He said: "I remember just being like, 'Wow, this is going to be massive.'"

Jonathan found shooting Bridgerton to be an "all-encompassing" experience, and he actually welcomed returning to his theatre roots in recent years.

The actor - who returned to London's West End after the second season of Bridgerton - explained: "When you go and film something like Bridgerton, and you say goodbye to your friends, your family, it's all-encompassing.

"I read an interview with Walton Goggins where he was saying he was glad that even now White Lotus didn't happen to him 10 years ago because he wouldn't have known what to do with that. And I just feel that maybe Bridgerton was just a smidge quicker than I was prepared for.

"Going back to theatre, working with people that I know, that has helped."