'Bridgerton' Star, Ruby Barker Is Unrecognisable After Massive Weight Gain Due To Bipolar Disorder

British actress, Ruby Barker is best known for her role as' Marina Thompson' (later 'Lady Marina Crane') in the hit Netflix period drama, Bridgerton. She was a series regular in Season 1 and returned for a guest appearance in Season 2. 'Marina' was introduced as a distant cousin of the 'Featheringtons', who was sent to London to find a husband. Ruby impressed the audience with her convincing performance and natural on-screen chemistry with her co-stars. However, behind the scenes, she struggled with mental and physical issues. A recent glimpse of her showed a drastic change in her physique, which she attributed to her work on the Netflix series.

What happened to Ruby Barker during the filming of Bridgerton?

Ruby Barker, aka 'Marina Thompson' of Bridgerton, has been open about her struggles with bipolar disorder, which she manages as a long-term condition. She revealed that she suffered two psychotic breaks during her time on the show. She described her mental state as "deteriorating" during the filming of the first season of the show. She attributes it to her character's storyline, which involved being isolated and ostracised. The character 'Marina' mirrored Ruby's feelings of alienation at the time, as she shared. The actress' first psychotic break occurred in 2019, just a week after wrapping production of Season 1.

At that time, Ruby was hospitalised; however, it didn't make the news. She alleged that the update about her health issues was covered up to avoid negatively affecting the premiere of Bridgerton's first instalment. Ruby Barker's second psychotic break occurred in 2022. She has since criticised streaming partner, Netflix and production company, Shondaland, for a total lack of support towards her during her vulnerable condition. Alleging a lack of aftercare, she stated that despite her very publicised physical and mental struggles, no one from the production team cared to reach out to her and check on her well-being, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Ruby Barker's bipolar disorder has impacted her weight drastically

Ruby Barker has recently opened up about experiencing a significant change in her body due to her bipolar disorder. In a recent update shared on Instagram, she detailed how the medication changed her metabolism and led to what she calls "medical weight gain." She revealed that she reached 112.5 kg (248.02 pounds) as a result of the treatment. Ruby also shared her commitment towards weight loss and shared clips from her gym session. Ruby's fans appreciated her candid revelation regarding her weight and her resilience towards weight management amid her bipolar disorder treatment procedure. Her well-wishers took to the comments to offer her words of strength and encouragement.

As of March 2026, Ruby continues to advocate for mental health awareness. She emphasises the importance of physical well-being and 'one step at a time' progress. She now serves as a mental health ambassador and has worked with the charity Mind to campaign for reform of the Mental Health Act. She also uses her social media to discuss the causes and impact of mental health issues, citing her own personal experience. Fans appreciate the transparency and are easily able to connect with her.

More about Ruby Barker

Ruby Barker is a British actress widely recognised for her breakout role as' Marina Thompson' in Bridgerton (2020–2022). Born on December 23, 1996 in Islington, London, she is 29 years old as of March 2026. She grew up in Glasgow and Yorkshire and was part of the foster care system before being adopted. Ruby received early attention for her role as 'Daisie' in the fantasy series, Wolfblood (2017). Among her impressive achievements is her Best Actress award win at the British Urban Film Festival. She bagged the accolade for her lead performance in the independent film, How to Stop a Recurring Dream (2020).  Besides acting, she has worked with brands such as Mullerlight as a campaign ambassador and has provided voiceovers for various projects.

What are your thoughts on Ruby Barker's revelation regarding her weight gain due to mental health troubles? Let us know.

Also Read: 'Bachelorette' Taylor Frankie Paul Shares Daughter's Reaction To Her Assault And Arrest Video Leak

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)