Ruby Reilly Character Analysis in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Ruby Reilly is one of the first actors Evelyn forms a relationship with in Hollywood. She stars alongside Evelyn and Celia in Little Women and seems more threatened by Celia than Evelyn does, suggesting both that Evelyn’s relationship with Celia is particularly close, and that Ruby is hungry for fame and success. Evelyn refers to Ruby as a “fair-weather friend,” meaning that Ruby will help and support Evelyn only when it suits Ruby to do so. Nevertheless, Ruby’s help is integral to Evelyn’s plan to have paparazzi photograph her and Harry passionately kissing. Ruby marries Don after he and Evelyn divorce, and when she tells Evelyn that Don abused her just as he abused Evelyn, Evelyn realizes that by not telling Ruby about Don’s behavior, she unintentionally put Ruby in harm’s way.

Ruby Reilly Character Timeline in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

The timeline below shows where the character Ruby Reilly appears in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Femininity, Sexuality, and Power Theme Icon

...Celia St. James will be playing Beth, Evelyn worries that Celia will overshadow her and Ruby Reilly, another of her co-stars. She tells Harry she’s ready to do the film. He... (full context)

...youthful and perfect in a girl-next-door way—a beauty that people can relate to. Evelyn and Ruby know the kind of power that accessibility gives Celia. Celia tells them she’s scared, and... (full context)

...as they arrived at the party, and Evelyn looks for Celia instead. She runs into Ruby, who pulls her into the laundry room and asks her what they’re going to do... (full context)

Evelyn’s history picks back up at the Academy Awards afterparty. Ruby leaves Evelyn alone in the laundry room at the party, and soon after, Celia walks... (full context)

...the box office, while Celia’s newest film sells out, Don stars in a blockbuster, and Ruby receives rave reviews for a role Ari took away from Evelyn. Eventually, after seeing the... (full context)

An article in Sub Rosa reports that Don Adler and Ruby Reilly are engaged, two years after Evelyn and Don’s divorce. The article ponders how Don... (full context)

...rehearsals for Anna Karenina. The author goes on to mention that Don is separating from Ruby. Two weeks later, an article in Photomoment announces that Celia St. James is engaged to... (full context)

...candid picture: they’ll do it tomorrow night in a secluded but accessible spot. Evelyn calls Ruby, asking her to clue in photographers. During the phone call, Ruby asks Evelyn why she... (full context)

Ruby asks Evelyn whether she wants any particular photographers for the following night. Evelyn tells her... (full context)

...event that she wins, she’ll talk to Celia; she agrees begrudgingly. The Oscar goes to Ruby. Evelyn goes to the bathroom and cries in a stall. Soon, she hears Celia calling... (full context)