The Wicked: For Good star reflected on his high school experiences, noting with humour how those who once bullied him for his sexuality might now boast about going to school with him.

“They’ve got their tickets for the first night of Wicked,” Bailey told E! News’ Justin Sylvester at the film’s New York City premiere on Nov. 17.

“ When ‘ For Good’ is playing, they’ll be like, ‘ Yeah, it’s so amazing because I knew him.’”

His once gests have given him a deeper appreciation for the universal themes of Wicked, particularly the stories of Elphaba( Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda( Ariana Grande).

“ It’s a veritably real and true story for anyone supposed ‘ other’ or who doesn’t fit typical prospects, ” Bailey said. “Wicked is about otherness, identity, and the power of that.”

Bailey also acknowledged his younger self, saying, “I just know that little us would have loved seeing us now doing this.”

These insights influenced his portrayal of Fiyero, a character he initially found “far more serious” than expected. “I think that’s what hopefully feels incredibly human,” Bailey explained.

“We start carelessly in early life, and with Fiyero, that was a defence mechanism. But when he meets Elphaba, who confronts injustice and sees the world with kindness, a quiet rebellion emerges in the second film.”

Though busy with Wicked, the 37-year-old, recently named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, revealed plans to take a short break from acting after consecutive projects like Bridgerton, Jurassic World Rebirth, and the Wicked films.

“I’ve been working solidly for about three years,” he told British GQ in September.

“With everything happening in the world, it makes sense to stop acting for a bit next year and focus on The Shameless Fund,” the UK-based charity he founded to support LGBTQ+ organisations in partnership with global brands.

“Out of every £100 raised in the UK, only 1 penny goes to the LGBTQ+ community.

The Shameless Fund aims to change that.”

Despite stepping back from the screen, Bailey remains grateful for his career.

“You reach a point where you look back and think, ‘Wow,’” he told People. “You never imagine that’s where you’re headed, but you get to do the things you dream of.”

Wicked: For Good hits theatres on Nov 21.