Ruby Barker Opens Up About Quitting Smoking After 18 Years: “I Couldn’t Even Climb a Hill”

Ruby Barker, known for playing Marina Thompson in Bridgerton, has revealed she began smoking at age 11 and vaped for years, leading to substantial lung damage after 18 years of the habit. The 29-year-old actress quit after struggling to climb a hill and is now prioritising recovery through regular exercise, running and mental health work with a personal trainer.

Barker described reaching a turning point where she acknowledged the accumulated harm, emphasising lifestyle changes for physical and emotional improvement.

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A post shared by Ruby Barker (@rubybarker)

Ruby Barker’s Bridgerton Experience and Mental Health Struggles

Barker has spoken publicly about her mental health struggles that overlapped with and followed her time on Bridgerton. She appeared in season one and season two, playing the pregnant-out-of-wedlock cousin of the Featheringtons who faces social isolation and pressure. She has described the role’s circumstances, feeling alienated and ostracised under difficult conditions, as tormenting, saying she was already deteriorating while filming.

Shortly after wrapping season one filming in 2019, she experienced her first psychotic break and was hospitalised for an extended period. She has said this was kept quiet because the show was preparing to premiere. A second major crisis occurred in 2022, leading to another hospitalisation. At the time she spoke about being “really unwell for a really long time,” carrying intergenerational trauma, and later receiving a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

In later interviews, Barker has said she would not return to the series, both because it would not be her choice and because of the serious mental health crisis she experienced alongside the role. She has also discussed broader personal context, including early life in foster care and adoption, and the later loss of her father.

Fans Are Rooting For Ruby Barker’s Healing Journey

The sentiment around Ruby Barker’s post is overwhelmingly supportive, warm and encouraging. Most commenters praised her honesty about starting smoking at 11 and the damage it caused, with many saying her openness could help others quit or avoid starting. People repeatedly called her “inspirational,” “motivating,” “transparent” and “brave,” especially because she is showing the difficult parts of rebuilding her health rather than presenting a polished celebrity transformation.

A major theme is pride. Fans are celebrating her progress in the gym, her visible confidence, her weight loss and her stronger energy. Many also praised the bond she has with her trainer, saying that kind of support clearly matters in her recovery and fitness journey.

Several commenters connected her story to their own experiences with smoking or vaping. Some said they had quit years ago, others said they were still trying, and many framed Ruby’s journey as a reminder that quitting is hard but possible.

There is also a lot of affection for Ruby personally. People are not just applauding the physical change; they are responding to her vulnerability, humour and resilience. The comments show that fans see her as someone who has been through a lot and is now actively choosing herself. Overall, the reaction is not judgmental. It is protective, emotional and proud. The dominant message is: Ruby is healing in public, and people are rooting for her.