British actress Ruby Barker, known for her role as Marina Thompson in the popular Netflix series “Bridgerton,” has spoken out about her struggles with mental health and criticized the show’s producers for allegedly not providing support during her difficult times.
In a recent podcast interview, the 26-year-old actress candidly discussed her experiences in the acting industry, specifically addressing the challenges she faced while portraying Marina Thompson on “Bridgerton.” According to Barker, the show’s creators did not reach out to check on her after she experienced two psychotic breaks.
Speaking on the toll her role had on her during filming, Barker directly addressed Netflix and the show’s production company, Shondaland, founded by renowned writer and producer Shonda Rhimes. She expressed her disappointment, saying, “Not a single person from Netflix, not a single person from Shondaland, since I have had two psychotic breaks from that show, have even contacted me or even emailed me to ask me if I’m okay or if I would benefit from any sort of aftercare or support. Nobody.”
Ruby Barker played a regular role during the show’s first season and returned as a guest actor for season two, portraying Marina Thompson, a Featherington cousin who conceals her pregnancy out of wedlock. The actress revealed that her isolated role negatively impacted her mental state, which began deteriorating during the filming of the first season.
“During filming, I was deteriorating. It was a really tormenting place for me to be because my character was very alienated, very ostracized, on her own under these horrible circumstances.” Barker disclosed that her first psychotic break occurred in 2019, just a week after wrapping production for season one. She claimed to have been hospitalized for a year, and the incident was kept “on the down-low,” presumably to prevent any negative impact on the show’s premiere ratings.
“In the run-up to the show coming out, I was just coming out from the hospital, my Instagram following was going up, I had all these engagements to do… My life was changing drastically overnight, and yet there was still no support, and there still hasn’t been any support all that time. So I was trying really, really hard to act like it was okay and that I could work and that it wasn’t a problem”.
She further explained the pressure she felt, saying, “It’s almost like I had this metaphorical invisible gun to my head to sell this show because this show is bubbly and fun. I don’t want to come out and poo-poo on that because then I’ll never work again”.
Ruby Barker had previously shared that she was hospitalized for a second time in 2022, expressing gratitude towards Netflix and the show’s executive producer, Shonda Rhimes, for “saving her” by casting her in Bridgerton.
The podcast episode featuring Barker’s revelations has gained significant attention, with fans expressing their thoughts on her mental health struggles and the alleged lack of support from the show’s production.
Written by
Derek Chan – Editor
