Bridgerton’s Ruby Barker calls out Netflix and Shondaland for lack of care after she suffered two psychotic breaks

“Bridgerton”’s Ruby Barker, who plays Marina Thompson, a Featherington cousin, on the body-ripping period drama, is slamming both Netflix and Shondaland for failing to check on her mental well-being after suffering two psychotic breaks due to the show.

Speaking on the Oxford University’s “LOAF” Podcast, the British actress revealed, “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.”

Barker went on to explain that due to the isolated nature of her character on the show, who has a scandalous pregnancy out of wedlock, she started to feel the real-world effects of the storyline, and went on to say that Netflix and Shondaland were derelict in their duty of care.

“During filming, I was deteriorating,” she explained in the interview. “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.”

“When I went into hospital a week after shooting ‘Bridgerton’ Season 1, it was really covered up and kept on the down-low because the show was going to be coming out,” she revealed.

“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.”

“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,” she continued.

These comments come in stark contrast to the first time she revealed to her Instagram following that she had been struggling with her mental health. In 2022, we reported on her statement after receiving care where she praised both Netflix and Shondaland for “saving” her.

Back then, in her direct-to-camera video, she said, “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 for myself.”

She blamed her state on suffering from the “intergenerational trauma bundled up inside,” and added that she has been “really unwell for a long time,”

Noting that she was feeling “rage-filled, frustrated, angry,” she continued, “I was carrying the weight of the world on my back.” 

“I’m at a point where I have a diagnosis, and I will talk to you about that at another time,” she said back then. She then praised Netflix, Shondaland, and Shonda Rhimes herself“for giving me an opportunity, for saving me.”

At press time, neither Netflix not Shonda Rhimes have replied to her statements.

You can watch Barker’s entire interview here.