Bridgerton Star Blames Netflix For Psychotic Breaks
Bridgerton may have proven to be a money-making title for Netflix, but now, as Deadline reports, one of its stars is stepping forward to recount her miserable time on the set, an experience that included “psychotic breaks.” Ruby Barker, who appeared as Marina in the first two seasons of the hit series recently appeared on the LOAF Podcast where she put the streamer, as well as the show’s production company, Shondaland, on blast. According to Barker, her mental health collapsed so much during just one week that she was sent to the hospital.
Netflix Didn’t Want Barker’s Health Issues Affecting Bridgerton’s Premiere
“It was really covered up and kept on the down-low because the show was going to be coming out,” the Bridgerton alum revealed. As Barker puts it, no one at Netflix or on the production team was supportive of her ailment and was more concerned about how something like this would reflect on the series as a whole. The actress explains that in part because her character “was very alienated,” she, too, felt very alone and on the outskirts.
Barker Reports That Netflix Was Unsupportive
Like what many other members of the Bridgerton ensemble felt, Barker says that her life seemingly changed “overnight” due to the celebrity of the Netflix series. Feeling that she was on a lifeboat and completely thrown out to sea on her own, Barker adds that “there still hasn’t been any support all that time.” She says that she was afraid for the future of her career should she have revealed what was really going on behind the scenes with her mental health.
She Portrayed Marina During Bridgerton’s First 2 Seasons
Barker’s Bridgerton character, Marina, who appeared in the show’s first two seasons was finding herself ostracized from the group of well-to-do characters after an unplanned pregnancy flipped her life upside down. Just as the character continued to be jostled by the ongoing life changes, as was Barker, with the Netflix series taking off like a rocket.
While the title may have been the up-and-coming actress’s big step towards stardom, the question remains as to whether she’ll eventually have positive memories to look back on during what sounds to be a very traumatic chapter of her life.
Following Series Like Downton Abbey, Bridgerton Was A Big Hit For Netflix
Premiering in December 2020, Bridgerton took the world by storm in a series adaptation of Julia Quinn’s period drama book series. In what would mark a first for Shondaland (the folks behind such celebrated productions as Grey’s Anatomy and How to Get Away with Murder), the production company crossed from network TV to streaming with Netflix. Set in London during the Regency era, Bridgerton follows a handful of noble youth of marrying age as they date, dream, and climb the social ladder.
Bridgerton Season 3 Premieres Sometime In 2024
Landing nominations at award ceremonies including the Emmys and Screen Actors Guild Awards, Bridgerton has now found a home on Netflix for two seasons with a third on the way. As of right now, a release window for the third installment has yet to be announced and is likely held up due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, much like many other productions in Hollywood.
With Barker’s statements now out in the open, there’s a good possibility that other cast members who have experienced a similar treatment will step forward to share their stories. Stay tuned for updates as we receive them.
