Erin Moriarty opened up to Deadline about battling Graves' disease while filming season five of The Boys, revealing how she managed a chronic autoimmune condition during production of the final season.
"I thought I was dying," Moriarty said of her experience, describing it as "physical hell." The diagnosis came while she was deep in production on the Prime Video series, where her character Starlight reaches her conclusion.
Graves' disease attacks the thyroid and can trigger fatigue, heart palpitations, tremors, and anxiety—symptoms that would complicate executing fight choreography and emotional scenes on a daily basis.
Moriarty was direct about what she experienced. She called it torture rather than framing it as perseverance rewarded. The actress did not hide behind professional composure or suggest that the cameras made the suffering worthwhile.
For fans of The Boys, Moriarty's account adds context to Starlight's final arc. The scenes she filmed, the moments she appeared despite physical distress—all happened under severe constraint. The character gets her resolution. Moriarty gets rest.
Fans have responded with expressions of support and acknowledgment of her commitment to the work. Most would have stepped away for an extended period. She worked through physical illness and completed one of the show's final storylines.
