Bridgerton star Ruby Barker has hit out at Netflix for the way she says she was treated in the aftermath of shooting the first season of the hit period drama show, in which she plays Featherington cousin Marina Crane.
During an appearance on Oxford University’s LOAF Podcast, the actor opened up about experiencing two psychotic breaks, one in 2019 after wrapping production on the first season of Bridgerton, and one in 2022. She claimed that she got “no support” from Netflix or Shonda Rhimes’ production company Shondaland.
“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,” she said. “Nobody.”
Ruby went on to describe her “deteriorating” state while filming, which was worsened by the “alienation” of her character. Marina falls pregnant by a man we don’t meet on the show, and is forced to keep it secret and try to find a man to marry her before the Ton discovers she’s with child.
“During filming, I was deteriorating,” Ruby said. “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 went on to allege how her mental health issues were “covered up” by bosses due to the timing of the show’s release, even though she was in hospital for treatment.
“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,” she said. “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…
LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX