Ruby Barker, star of Bridgerton, has criticised Netflix for failing to help her after she was hospitalised for mental health difficulties.
The 26-year-old actress is most known for her role as Marina Thompson in the first two seasons of the blockbuster historical drama based on Julia Quinn’s books.
However, Ruby admitted last year that she had been’really sick for a long time’ and had been brought to hospital after feeling like she was ‘bearing the weight of the world on my back’.
She has now revealed further information about what occurred at the time, claiming that the streaming service ‘covered up’ her hospitalisation.
‘When I went into hospital a week after shooting Bridgerton season one, that was really, really covered up and kept on the down low because the show was going to be coming out,’ she said.
‘I was getting on well during the film, I was deteriorating the minute that we wrapped.
‘I think it kind of helped for me. A lot of artists suffer from mental health, and I think it did kind of help me get into that headspace in that world. It was a really tormenting place for me to be because my character was very alienated, very ostracised, on her own, under these horrible circumstances,’ she added when speaking on the LOAF podcast.
She continued: ‘The thing is with Bridgerton, and I’ll tell you something – and I’m happy to talk about it now – but not a single person from that place, not a single person from Shondaland since I have had two psychotic breaks, from that show have even contacted me or emailed me to ask me if I’m okay. Or ask me if I would benefit from any sort of aftercare or support. Nobody.’
Ruby went on to discuss how the increased public interest in the programme and its actors left her feeling overwhelmed as the first season premiered in 2020.
‘My Instagram following was going up, I had all of these engagements to do,’ she said.
‘My life was changing drastically overnight. And yet, there was still no support, and there still hasn’t been any support for that time.
‘So, I was trying really, really hard to just sort of act like this is fine. “This is okay, I’m okay. I can work. It’s not a problem”.’
The actress described how she felt there was a ‘kind of metaphorical, invisible gun to my head to sell this show, because this show’s bubbly and fun and all of these things’.
‘I don’t want to come out and poopoo on that, because then I might never work again.’
Speaking to her followers last year, Ruby posted a series of videos sharing her mental health struggles.
Recording a video from hospital, she said she needed to ‘take a bit of a break for myself’, explaining how she had been ‘rage-filled, frustrated, angry’ before seeking help for ‘all this intergenerational trauma bundled up inside me’.
She then thanked Netflix and Shonda Rhimes, Bridgerton’s executive producer, for ‘saving her’ by giving her the opportunity on the series.
Bridgerton is streaming on Netflix.
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org between the hours of 9am and midnight.
