Erin Moriarty Shares Struggles Filming ‘The Boys’ Season 2 Scene With Staph Infection

Erin Moriarty has opened up about a challenging experience from her time on The Boys, revealing that she filmed an intimate scene in season 2 while battling a severe staph infection.

During her appearance on the MesSy podcast, Moriarty explained that she was suffering from a “really, really bad” infection while shooting Starlight and Hughie’s first sex scene. The illness became so severe that it hindered her physical movements, making even simple actions painful.

“You’re taught and conditioned, especially when you start really young as an actress, to say yes to everything and to swallow your needs,” Moriarty shared during the interview. She mentioned that she was accustomed to enduring illness for her work, stating, “I would suffer for my art. I would transcend whatever physical ailments I was going through.”

The actress described how her condition deteriorated while she continued to work. She noted that she didn’t fully grasp the seriousness of her situation until others noticed it. “This is one of many examples where I was so run down that I developed a really, really, really bad staph infection,” she said. “And it got really bad. Like, really really bad. And I couldn’t move my right arm.”

Moriarty also recounted her attempts to inform the crew about the severity of her condition, explaining that it wasn’t until she physically demonstrated her symptoms that they understood. “I was like, ‘Guys, I have a second head growing out of my armpit,’” she recalled. “Even if you want us to go through with this, this is what it looks like.”

According to Moriarty, the production team made some adjustments after she expressed her concerns, but the schedule still required filming the scene that night. She reflected on how she often felt pressured to push through pain to avoid delaying production or appearing unprofessional.

In the same interview, she reflected on her tendency to downplay her struggles on set. “I try to withhold how many times I complain because I know that when I do complain, people won’t take it seriously,” she said. She expressed frustration at feeling unheard until the severity of her condition became visible to others.

Moriarty, who has also publicly discussed her diagnosis of Graves’ disease, ultimately persevered through the shoot despite her condition. “I suck it up for work. I show up. I do a good job,” she stated. “I can be in hell, but I will show up and do whatever I have to do to show that I’m a good sport.”

The actress completed the scene, though the experience was both physically and emotionally taxing. Her remarks shed light on the pressures performers often face while working through illness in demanding environments.

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