Ruby Barker, who gained public recognition for her role in “Bridgerton,” has openly attacked Shondaland and Netflix for failing to provide her with the necessary support during her two episodes of psychosis, which happened after the romantic series’ enormous success. In Regency-era London, Barker, who played Marina, a Featherington cousin suffering social exile because to her scandalous pregnancy, expressed her dismay at the show’s creators’ lack of support.
Not long after “Bridgerton” Season 1 filming wrapped up in 2019, Barker experienced the first of his two psychotic episodes. The following took place in 2022. In an appearance with Oxford University’s LOAF Podcast, she said that she had not received any communication from Netflix or Shondaland on her well-being or offers of assistance or followup.
“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,” she said, emphasizing the lack of communication from either party and the lack of assistance.
Ruby Barker (Credits: Business Insider)
The seclusion her character endured on the show, according to Barker, is what caused her mental health to begin to deteriorate while “Bridgerton” was being filmed. She stated, “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.”
Noting that it was kept private due to the upcoming premiere of the show, she also talked about her experience checking herself into a hospital a week after the first season’s filming concluded. With no help, she had to deal with the pressures of a quickly growing social media following, multiple engagements, and big life upheavals.
In a post on Instagram in May 2022, Barker alluded to her mental health issues by saying she had been “really unwell for a really long time” and had been “struggling since ‘Bridgerton.'” At the time, she expressed gratitude to Netflix for giving her a role in the show, which she thought had saved her. Her current critique, nevertheless, is directed toward the streaming platform’s lack of assistance.
In the LOAF podcast, Barker disclosed that the show’s producers did not support her efforts to promote “Bridgerton” during a trying time in her life. As she struggled with her own issues, she felt pressured to maintain a positive public image, 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.” Variety has contacted Netflix and Shondaland for comment on the matter.
