Bridgerton Star Calls Out Netflix For Doing Nothing During Psychotic Breaks
Bridgerton, Netflix’s extremely successful Regency romance, is praised for skillfully weaving a captivating tapestry of society while also delving into deeper subjects like equality, feminism, and prejudice. But underneath the show’s bright facade seems to be a web of secrets the studio is trying to hide. According to Daily Beast, Ruby Barker, who plays Marina Thompson in the Netflix hit, is speaking out about the show’s lack of support for its actors, and she’s sharing her experience of how the series pushed her into two psychotic breaks.
Ruby Barker Claims That Netflix Offered No Support Following Her Mental Breakdowns
In a candid interview on Oxford University’s LOAF Podcast, Ruby Barker opened up about her harrowing experiences with mental health challenges and alleged a lack of support from Netflix and Shondaland, the production company behind the show. The 26-year-old actress disclosed that she faced two psychotic breaks, the first occurring shortly after the conclusion of Bridgerton‘s first season in 2019 and the second in 2022.
Ruby Barker expressed her frustration and 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 if I’m OK or if I would benefit from any sort of aftercare or support. Nobody.”
Barker Insinuates That Netflix Forced Her To Keep Her Struggles A Secret
For several years, Ruby Barker’s breakdowns were kept secret by Netflix’s publicity team. But the actress went public about her experience in May 2022 when she took to Instagram to reveal her struggles, mentioning that she had been “really unwell for a really long time.” At that time, she was hospitalized, sharing her hope for a recovery that would enable her to continue with her life.
She Felt Forced To Appear Happy And Promote Bridgerton
In that Instagram post, Ruby Barker also expressed gratitude to Netflix for “saving her” by providing her with the opportunity to be part of Bridgerton. However, during her recent podcast interview, she detailed the overwhelming challenges of her newfound fame, explaining that her rapid ascent to stardom made her promotional obligations difficult: “It’s almost like I had this metaphorical invisible gun to my head to sell this show because this show is bubbly and fun.”
Playing Marina Only Made Things Worse
Ruby Barker went on to describe the toll her Netflix character’s turmoil and isolation took on her mental health. Her character, Marina, a small-town newcomer to high society, faces shame and ostracization from her wealthy cousins due to a scandalous pregnancy, leading her character down a dark and tragic path.
“During filming, I was deteriorating,” Ruby Barker revealed, opening up about her experience on the Netflix series. “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.”
In the show, Marina attempts to have an abortion, which fails, and ultimately marries her deceased lover’s brother, all under the watchful eye of the Regency-era London society.
Will Netflix Respond?
Ruby Barker further disclosed that during her first psychotic break, which occurred a week after shooting Bridgerton Season 1, her struggles were kept “covered up” by Netflix and hidden from the public eye as the show’s release was approaching. She faced increasing engagement demands as her Instagram following skyrocketed, and eventually, she suffered her second breakdown. But despite the stress caused by the show, Barker claimed that there has never been any support or aftercare from Netflix or Shondaland.
