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Bridgerton Star's Mental Health Battle Revealed
1 Mar
Summary
- Actress Ruby Barker discussed her struggles with mental health.
- She experienced two psychotic breaks and panic attacks.
- Barker is now coping with medical weight gain.

Actress Ruby Barker, known for her role as Marina Thompson in "Bridgerton," has opened up about her significant mental health struggles. Barker revealed that she experienced two psychotic breaks and debilitating panic attacks, which impacted her ability to continue with the show. She shared these experiences via Instagram and "The Loaf" podcast in 2022, expressing gratitude to executive producer Shonda Rhimes and Netflix for their support.
Following her departure from "Bridgerton," Barker has also been transparent about dealing with "medical weight gain" stemming from eight months of treatment for bipolar disorder. She detailed the mental challenges associated with these physical changes, emphasizing the difficulty of self-comparison and mirror-related anxieties. As of early 2026, Barker has recently marked four days vape-free, noting improvements in her cardio. The future of her character Marina in "Bridgerton" remains uncertain, with the showrunner confirming the end of Marina's storyline.




