Ruby Barker facts for kids

Ruby Barker (born on December 23, 1996) is a talented actress from Britain. She is most famous for her role as Marina in the popular Netflix TV show Bridgerton. This show is a period drama, meaning it is set in the past. Ruby also won an award for Best Actress at the British Urban Film Festival. She received this award for her main role in the movie How to Stop a Recurring Dream (2020).

Ruby Barker's Early Life and Childhood

Ruby Barker was born in Islington, a part of London, England. Her parents were from Ireland and Montserrat. Soon after she was born, Ruby and her sister Harriet went into foster care. Later, they were both adopted into a new family.

Ruby spent her early childhood years in London and Winchester. She then grew up in Glasgow until she was a teenager. While living in Glasgow, she took dance classes on weekends at the Elizabeth Murray School of Dance. Her very first acting job was in an advertisement for the RBS.

Later, her parents separated. Ruby moved to Church Fenton, a small village in Yorkshire, with her mother and stepmother. She went to Tadcaster Grammar School nearby. Ruby first planned to study international relations at the London School of Economics. However, she decided to follow her passion for drama instead. She worked at the National Railway Museum in York while acting in local plays.

Ruby Barker's Acting Career

Ruby Barker started her acting career in theatre. In 2015, she played two characters, Mercy and Titivillus, in a play called Mankind. This play was performed at the National Centre for Early Music.

A director from the Royal Shakespeare Company, Phillip Breen, noticed her talent. He cast her as Mary in the 2016 York Mystery Plays. He also helped her find an agent, which is someone who helps actors get jobs. After this, Ruby started appearing on television.

She got a repeating role as Daisie in the fifth season of Wolfblood. This was a fantasy show for teenagers on the CBBC channel. In 2018, Ruby starred in a play called Of Close Quarters at Sheffield Theatres. She played the character Private Sarah Findlay.

In 2020, Ruby Barker became widely known for her role as Marina in Bridgerton. This popular period drama is produced by Shondaland for Netflix. That same year, she made her first appearance in a feature film. She starred alongside Lily-Rose Aslandogdu in the thriller movie How to Stop a Recurring Dream. Her performance in this film earned her the Best Actress award at the British Urban Film Festival.

In 2022, Ruby performed on the London stage for the first time. She was in a play called Running with Lions at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith. She also has a role in the horror movie Baghead, which came out in 2024.

Ruby Barker's Personal Life and Well-being

Ruby Barker has openly shared about taking time to focus on her well-being. In 2022, she took a break to care for her mental health. She mentioned that she had been feeling unwell for a long time. She was able to leave the hospital by May 30, 2022. She shared that her health had been challenging while filming the first season of Bridgerton.

In January 2023, Ruby's father passed away. To honor his memory, she became an ambassador for Cruse Bereavement Support. This charity helps people who are dealing with the loss of a loved one. In March 2024, Ruby broke her arm while rock climbing.

Ruby Barker's Acting Roles

Movies

Television Shows

Audio Plays

Theatre Plays

Awards and Nominations