Ruby Barker portrayed Marina Thompson in the first two seasons of Bridgerton but has not appeared since, as the series shifts focus to Eloise Bridgerton’s romance with Phillip Crane.
Early Role and Departure
The 29-year-old actress joined the Regency-era drama for its debut season on Netflix in 2020 and returned for season 2. Her absence stems from personal mental health challenges that impacted her involvement.
Mental Health Struggles
In 2022, Barker openly shared her difficulties on Instagram, stating, “I just want to be honest with everybody, I have been struggling. So, I’m in the hospital at the minute, I’m gonna get discharged soon and hopefully get to continue with my life and I’m gonna take a little bit of a break from myself.”
She credited executive producer Shonda Rhimes and Netflix for providing opportunities that supported her, along with her close friends. Barker later detailed experiencing two psychotic breaks.
Discussing the timing on The Loaf podcast in 2022, she explained, “I was just then coming out of hospital [when season 1 premiered on Netflix] because it took a year in the edit. My Instagram followers were going up, I had all these engagements to do, my life was changing drastically overnight and yet there was no support. I was trying really really hard to act like it was OK, this is OK, and that I could work and that it wasn’t a problem.”
Barker also addressed her physical and mental well-being on Instagram: “Beautiful bodies — weight loss and toning up has been a byproduct of inner work … Cooking, moving, sleeping, accepting where I am and still getting back up.” She described past struggles including panic attacks, disordered eating, and feeling disconnected from self-care.
Recent Updates and Projects
Following her Bridgerton exit, Barker starred in the horror film Baghead and launched her beauty business, My Lady Melts. In February, she discussed coping with medical weight gain linked to bipolar disorder treatment on Instagram: “Many of you know my story and the battles I’ve faced living with bipolar disorder. This is the physical aftermath of eight months of treatment — and honestly, it’s brought a whole new mental challenge with it.”
She added, “Please wish me luck on this journey, because it isn’t easy. I truly empathise with anyone struggling with their weight — the comparison, the mirror, the constant mental noise.” Barker highlighted positives like quitting vaping, noting, “One step at a time.”
Marina’s Storyline Future
Showrunner Jess Brownell confirms Colin Bridgerton’s arc with Marina has concluded. In Julia Quinn’s original book series, Marina succumbs to a fever after a failed suicide attempt, paving the way for Phillip Crane and Eloise Bridgerton’s union. It remains uncertain if Barker will reprise her role.
