Erin Moriarty, who plays Starlight in the series "The Boys," disclosed she suffered a serious staph infection while filming a sex scene [1].

The revelation highlights the physical toll of high-pressure production schedules and the intersection of chronic health conditions with workplace safety. For Moriarty, the incident was a result of a compromised immune system during a demanding period of production.

According to Moriarty, the infection occurred early in the filming of season two [2]. She said, "I had one night for example early on in the show, season two, where I was so run down that I developed a really, really bad staph infection" [1].

The actress linked the vulnerability of her health to her diagnosis of Graves’ disease, an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones. This condition left her run down, which partially led to the serious infection [3].

Moriarty described the severity of the condition by noting that when she showed the infection to the crew, they realized how bad it was. She said, "I was like, ‘Guys, I …’" [1].

Throughout her time on the Amazon Prime series, Moriarty has appeared in five seasons as the character Annie January [4]. The production of "The Boys" is known for its intense scenes and complex choreography, which can add stress to performers managing chronic illnesses.

Staph infections are caused by Staphylococcus bacteria and can range from minor skin irritations to life-threatening systemic infections. In Moriarty's case, the combination of her existing autoimmune struggles and the environment of the set created a critical health risk [3].

“"I was so run down that I developed a really, really bad staph infection."”

This disclosure brings attention to the challenges actors face when managing chronic autoimmune diseases like Graves' disease under the rigors of television production. It underscores the necessity of health accommodations on set, as systemic illnesses can leave performers susceptible to opportunistic infections that may otherwise be manageable.