‘Bridgerton’s Ruby Barker Calls Out Netflix & Shondaland After Suffering “Psychotic Breaks” – Deadline
Ruby Barker is opening up about her experience on Bridgerton and calling out Netflix and Shondaland for not being more supportive during what she calls “psychotic breaks.”
“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,” Barker said during an appearance on the LOAF Podcast. “During filming I was deteriorating. 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.”
She continued, “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 okay or if I would benefit from any sort of aftercare or support. Nobody.”
Barker played the role of Marina in the first two seasons of the drama series. Marina was a controversial woman in the series following a pregnancy scandal. In real life, Barker was facing mental health issues due to the show.
Barker explained that a lot of things were happening at the same time when the show was set to premiere adding, “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 okay 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 wanna come out and poo-poo on that because then I might never work again!” she added.
Bridgerton is a drama series on Netflix created by Chris Von Dusen and based on the book series of the same name by Julia Quinn. Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland produces the show for the streamer.
Watch Barker’s full interview in the video posted below.
