Erin Moriarty has revealed that she lost the ability to walk while filming the final season of The Boys, as her previously undiagnosed Graves' disease symptoms reached their peak. The actor, who portrays Annie January, also known as Starlight, in the Prime Video series, shared details of her struggles on social media following the release of the fourth episode of the fifth and final season.
Injuries and Health Struggles
In an Instagram post, Moriarty wrote: 'Okay, so: season 5, episode 4 of The Boys is one of the most important episodes I've ever shot. Unfortunately, that part of the season coincided with my health issues peaking before my diagnosis. I am saving you the gnarly part of this picture but not long after this episode, I started to lose the ability to walk.' She added that numbness in her feet led to frequent falls, and the night before filming her segment of the episode, she fell and severely injured her knee.
Graves' Disease Diagnosis
The actor publicly disclosed her Graves' disease diagnosis in June of last year, describing symptoms such as nausea and exhaustion. At the time, she remarked: 'One thing I can say: if I hadn't chalked it all up to stress and fatigue, I would've caught this sooner.' She noted that her strength began to improve within 24 hours of starting treatment. Graves' disease is a form of hyperthyroidism caused by the immune system producing antibodies that overstimulate the thyroid gland, leading to excessive hormone production.
According to the NHS, common symptoms include a rapid heart rate or palpitations, tremors, diarrhoea, difficulty sleeping, weight loss, irregular menstrual cycles, and feelings of heat, hunger, or anxiety. Some patients may also experience neck swelling or bulging eyes, a condition known as Graves' ophthalmopathy.
Impact on Filming
Moriarty explained that her injuries and worsening symptoms hindered her ability to fully enjoy the production. 'I barely have any [behind-the-scenes] shots of this season, especially as things worsened,' she said. She emphasised that her post was not a plea for pity but a statement against autoimmune diseases and the ignorance surrounding them. 'F*** autoimmune disease. F*** it so hard. F*** the ignorance surrounding it, too. I can't remedy that ignorance but not being outspoken about it occasionally feels wrong.'
About The Boys
The Boys, which premiered in 2019, explores a world where superheroes are revered as celebrities and politicians but often abuse their powers. The series stars Karl Urban as Billy Butcher, Jack Quaid as Hughie Campbell, Antony Starr as Homelander, along with Jessie T Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capone, and Karen Fukuhara. Moriarty shared a tearful photo after wrapping her final scenes last July, following a period of harassment over assumptions about her appearance that led her to take an extended break from social media.
