Erin Moriarty Reveals She Filmed ‘The Boys’ Season 2 Intimate Scene While Battling a ‘Really Bad’ Staph Infection

Erin Moriarty has shared a difficult behind-the-scenes story from her time on The Boys, revealing that she filmed an intimate season 2 scene while suffering from a serious staph infection.

Speaking on the MesSy podcast, Moriarty explained that she was dealing with a “really, really bad” infection during production of Starlight and Hughie’s first sex scene. She said the illness became severe enough that it affected her physically and made even basic movement 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 said during the interview. She added that at the time she was used to pushing through illness for work, saying, “I would suffer for my art. I would transcend whatever physical ailments I was going through.”

The actress described how the condition worsened while she was still working. She explained that she didn’t fully realize how serious it had become until others saw it for themselves. “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 shared that she tried to alert people on set about how serious her condition was, but said it wasn’t fully understood until she physically showed them what she was dealing with. “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, production made adjustments after being informed, but the schedule still included filming the scene that night. She said the experience reflected a pattern where she often felt the need to push through pain in order to not slow down production or appear unprofessional.

In the same interview, she reflected on how she tends to minimize her own 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 added that it was frustrating to feel unheard until the severity became visible to others.

Moriarty, who has also spoken publicly about her diagnosis of Graves’ disease, said she ultimately pushed through the shoot despite her condition. “I suck it up for work. I show up. I do a good job,” she said. “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 said she still completed the scene, though the experience was physically and emotionally challenging. Her comments highlight the pressures performers can face while working through illness on demanding productions.

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