This Bridgerton Departure Gets More Unsettling With Each New Update

Summary:

• Bridgerton is a Netflix TV show based on Julia Quinn’s book series of the same name.
• The actress who portrayed Maina Thompson on the show, Ruby Barker, recently announced that she won’t be coming back for later seasons.
• Now the actress speaks up against Netflix and Shondaland for showing a lack of support during the mental health crisis that appeared on set.

As the world moves forward, people tend to pay more attention to their mental health as well as their physical health.

Some workplaces are responding to this trend by offering compensation or professional help to employees whose mental health may be affected by their work. However, these cases are rare, and many people are still left to suffer without getting the therapy they need. The entertainment industry is no different.

While some sets are known to have professionals on hand to support and counsel actors through traumatic scenes and events in their characters' lives, others don't seem to bother hiring more people. You'd think giants like Netflix and Shondaland wouldn't be among them, but it turns out even they have room to grow.

As more details emerge about Ruby Barker's departure from Netflix's hit period drama Bridgerton, more people are questioning whether the set was properly equipped to handle such a heavy storyline in the first place.

What Happened To Ruby Barker?

As the actress previously revealed on her own social media and in partnership with various charities for mental health support, she suffered a mental health crisis during the filming of the show. The role of Marina Thompson isn't the easiest to portray, as her character goes through so many terrible things at once and ends up in the worst possible place.

From the pressure of having to live up to the expectations of high society in London, to teenage pregnancy, to the devastation of losing the only person she ever loved, to the instant betrayal of her only friend, Marina has suffered more than anyone else in Season 1 of the show.

And to portray that, Barker had to feel it all. Without a professional on set, it almost turned tragic. The actress was very open about her experiences in the psychiatric hospital and pleaded for more funding for this part of the healthcare system. However, she kept some details of her relationship with Netflix and Shondaland under wraps afterward.

While she did her professional duties, hiding the pain and promoting Bridgerton as if nothing ever happened, according to Ruby Barker, no representatives ever contacted her to find out what condition she was in. Ultimately, the actress was left to fend for herself. She talked about it in more detail on The LOAF Podcast:

“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. <...> ”It's almost like I had this metaphorical invisible gun to my head to sell this show,” Barker said.

For now, it is confirmed that Barker will no longer be appearing as Marina Thompson on Bridgerton, and considering all the facts stated in the podcast, it is for the best. While fans may want to see what this means for the show creatively, this revelation also opens the door for a larger discussion about the mental health of actors.

If you're interested in seeing how Netflix handles the rest of Marina's story in Bridgerton in season 3, keep an eye out for a release date.

Source: The LOAF Podcast