"Nothing in his life became him like the leaving it." OK, that's the wrong play since it's a line from "Macbeth," but it best sums up Jonathan Bailey's performance in the new London production of "Richard II": The actor cranks up several gears the moment his character is forced by usurper Henry Bullingbrook to give

The actor, on a hot streak after “Wicked,” takes on his biggest stage role to date. In London, he plays Shakespeare’s unfortunate king as a flouncing sociopath.

Richard II is played by Jonathan Bailey, whose past work includes Bridgerton, Fellow Travellers, Cassio in Nicholas Hytner’s National Theatre production of Othello and Edgar to Ian McKellen’s King Lear.

Given the charm exuded in his turn as eligible bachelor Fiyero in Wicked and former eligible bachelor Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Bridgerton, the last place I expected Jonathan Bailey to properly stake his claim for a part in a summer rom-com blockbuster was in Richard II;

The Bridgerton star doesn’t attain the greatness of Ben Whishaw and David Tennant as Richard in Nicholas Hytner’s unflashy staging

The star of Bridgerton and Wicked returns to the stage in Shakespeare's history play, but does Nicholas Hytner's production impress the press? Fergus Morgan rounds up the reviews

Bailey inhabits and humanizes the king in a clean, clear, martial staging from Nicholas Hytner that feels right for our times

It’s a role ripe for star casting: Eddie Redmayne, David Tennant, Ben Whishaw are all recent Richards. Now Jonathan Bailey, hot off the back of Bridgerton and Wicked, has his shot at the part in a new production by Nicholas Hytner, which turns a history play, described as a tragedy, into a thriller.

REVIEW: Bridgerton and Wicked star Jonathan Bailey stars as Shakespeare's Richard II at the Bridge Theatre, London.