Bridgerton star Ruby Barker makes serious allegations against Netflix

Netflix’s Bridgerton is an enormous success for the streamer: After the first two well-watched seasons and the spin-off Queen Charlotte, the romantic series is currently preparing its 3rd season, with a total of 8 Bridgerton seasons possible. But a star of the series makes allegations against Netflix and the series creators.

Bridgerton star Ruby Barker slams Netflix for “lack of support.”

Ruby Barker played the role of Marina Thompson in the first season of Bridgerton (based on the books by Julia Quinn *). The pregnant cousin of the Featherington clan married her late lover’s brother, Philip Crane, and became Lady Marina Crane, thereby escaping the social shame of having a child out of wedlock. She had another guest appearance in the 4th episode of the 2nd season.

As an actress, Ruby Barker is now making serious allegations against Netflix and Shonda Rhimes’ production company Shondaland. As Variety reports, the actress suffered after Bridgerton filming ended two severe nervous breakdowns in 2019 and 2022. Barker denounces this “no support” from Netflix (via Daily Beast):

Not a single person from Netflix, not a single person from Shondaland has contacted me since my two mental breakdowns. It didn’t come an email to ask if I was okay or if I needed any support or follow-up.Ruby Barker felt abandoned by Netflix after her sudden Bridgerton success

According to Ruby Barker, this began Her mental health deteriorated during filming on Bridgerton, where her character’s isolated nature had a negative impact on her psyche:

During the [Bridgerton-]During the shoot I felt worse and worse. It was a really torturous place for mebecause of my character [Marina] is excluded and ostracized and she has to face these terrible circumstances alone. When I went to the hospital a week after filming ended, that was covered upbecause the series was about to be released.

While Ruby Barker’s fame grew with the success of Netflix’s Bridgerton, her life changed drastically overnight, which also meant a lot of promotional appointments. Nevertheless, the actress emphasizes, she received “still no support” and had difficulties “to act like I’m okay and like I can work without any problems”.

In an Instagram post, now no longer available but documented by sites like Daily Mail, Ruby Barker had made it public for the first time in May 2022 that it had been her since the end of Bridgerton “hasn’t been going well for a long time”.

In the LOAF podcast, the British actress now spoke of her advertising obligations as perceived “metaphorical invisible gun to the head”which forced her to sell Bridgerton as great fun if she ever wanted to work again.

The companies and employees of Netflix and Shondaland taken to court by Ruby Barker have so far no statement on Ruby Barker’s allegations delivered.

*. If you purchase through this link, we will receive a commission.