‘Bridgerton’ Star Ruby Barker Says She Had “Two Psychotic Breaks” Due To Series
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Bridgerton actress Ruby Barker is opening up about how the series impacted her mental health. Speaking on Oxford University’s student-ran The LOAF Podcast, the 26-year-old detailed her experience during and after filming the hit drama.
“During filming, I was deteriorating,” described Barker, per Variety. “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.”
On Bridgerton, Barker plays Lady Marina Crane. According to the series Wiki, the character is tricked into seeking marriage in an attempt to hide a secret pregnancy in order to be honorably welcomed into society.
“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,” detailed the actress. “Nobody.”
She continued, “When I went into hospital a week after shooting Bridgerton season one, it was really covered up and kept on the down-low because the show was going to be coming out,” adding “In the run-up to the show coming out, I was just coming out from 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 ok and that I could work and that it wasn’t a problem.”
In May 2022, Barker publicly discussed her hospitalization. According to Vanity Fair, she shared an Instagram video detailing the situation, and explaining how she was “really unwell for a really long time.” In the post, she thanked Shonda Rhimes and Netflix “for giving me an opportunity, for saving me.”
“I just want to be honest with everybody, I have been struggling. So, I’m in the hospital at the minute, I’m gonna get discharged soon and hopefully get to continue with my life and I’m gonna take a little bit of a break from myself,” wrote Barker.
Bridgerton season three is described by the platform as “scandalous.” Barker and her character Lady Marina are not listed in a blog post detailing the pending installment. VIBE has reached out to Netflix for a statement regarding Barker’s claims. Listen to The LOAF podcast below.
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