Jonathan Bailey has revealed the benefits he’s felt after cold water swimming off the coast of Sussex.

The actor is currently starring in Netflix’s Bridgerton as Lord Anthony Bridgerton and revealed to the New York Times Magazine that he made the move to Sussex during the Coronavirus pandemic so he could be closer to his family.

Although he admits that cold water swimming is something he only recently discovered, he said: “My mom’s side of the family was always by the sea, and I guess I’ve inherited that gene.”

He went on to say: “I like outdoor activities that’re bracing and stimulating: Being against, and leaning into, the elements has always been quite rewarding and meditative.

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“It gives your mind and body the same experience at the same time, which feels like a reset, if just for a few minutes.”

The actor likens cold water swimming to his job. He said: “So much of enjoying a cold water swim is in the preparation, much like being an actor and approaching a job. The exhilaration is in the thought of it, that sense of invigoration and resuscitation.

“You take the job, you decide to go for the swim and then the reality of it is always slightly daunting and terrifying. You gain confidence in knowing you’re going to enjoy it as it becomes routine, but there’s always a part of you that knows your breath’ll be taken away.”

Bridgerton is available to stream on Netflix.