Orange Is the New Black's Ruby Rose reflects on how the show changed her life

Chris Edwards
Photo credit: JoJo Whilden
Photo credit: JoJo Whilden

From Digital Spy

Orange is the New Black star Ruby Rose has opened up about how the show changed her life.

In a lengthy and emotional post on Instagram, the actress explained how she almost gave up acting and was living on a blow up mattress.

Photo credit: JoJo Whilden
Photo credit: JoJo Whilden

"Not long ago I packed my bags and left everything I knew behind, for a dream," she began. "I left my friends, family, career and comfort zone to attempt to break Hollywood.

"After two years of trying to get a manager or an agent I had spent every last cent I'd made in over decade of "showbiz"... I was living on a blow up mattress from Target and I had only 6 months left on my Visa to prove I could contribute to the industry abroad."

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Not long ago I packed my bags and left everything I knew behind, for a dream. I left my friends, family, career and comfort zone to attempt to break Hollywood. After two years of trying to get a manager or an agent I had spent every last cent I’d made in over decade of “showbiz”.. I was living on a blow up mattress from Target and I had only 6 months left on my Visa to prove I could contribute to the industry abroad. In a moment close to giving up I poured what I had into a short film called break free.. A short film I’d put off making for years because I was so fearful, fearful of how people would react, if I would lose my job or if brands would pull advertising from my shows. If brands I was the face of and spokesperson for would not want to be associated with me anymore and of course the fear of being so honest and raw in a video on platforms I had no control over. When I was stripped of those things, I had nothing to lose and no one to answer to and I realized I was getting depressed over rejection from others when I should have been focused on if I believed in me and if i did, what did I stand for and what really mattered to me. Breakfree changed my life in so many ways, and so did the struggle of those years. It will forever be the time I’m most proud of. I didn’t however know, it would change my entire life. The film ended up circulating around the world, it made an impact bigger than myself it started a bigger conversation.. it also found its way to the creators of OITNB... I am so sad I missed the premiere and last hurrah the other night, but I’m here in Vancouver shooting a show I probably wouldn’t even be shooting if it wasn’t for the belief and risk taken by @ijnej @jen_euston and the show. It opened up a door for me that I could have never imagined and I will forever be in gratitude to those who took a chance on me. Forever grateful to the cast who became my friends and biggest supporters, the show and the fans who embraced me. Thank you for everything. Sad to see it come to an end but the way it changed the game, the way it impacted the world and audiences.. and the way it impacted everyone on the show is unparalleled. X

A post shared by Ruby Rose (@rubyrose) on Jul 27, 2019 at 2:48pm PDT

However, it was after pouring everything she had left into a short film called Break Free that she finally caught the attention of people in the industry, including the creators of OITNB.

Rose was unable to attend the premiere of the final season of OITNB because she was busy shooting The CW's Batwoman series, a job she admitted she might never have had if she hadn't appeared on the Netflix prison drama.

Photo credit: The CW
Photo credit: The CW

"I am so sad I missed the premiere and last hurrah the other night, but I'm here in Vancouver shooting a show I probably wouldn't even be shooting if it wasn't for the belief and risk taken by @ijnej @jen_euston and the show," she continued.

"It opened up a door for me that I could have never imagined and I will forever be in gratitude to those who took a chance on me."

Rose went on to thank the cast and fans of the show, before adding: "Sad to see it come to an end but the way it changed the game, the way it impacted the world and audiences... and the way it impacted everyone on the show is unparalleled."

Orange Is the New Black's final season is available to watch on Netflix now.

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