The Boys star Erin Moriarty shared she was recently diagnosed with Graves’ disease, advocating for people to listen to their bodies, especially when in pain.
“Autoimmune disease manifests differently in everybody/every body,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “Your experience will be different from mine. My experience will be different from yours. Perhaps greatly, perhaps minutely.”
Per the Cleveland Clinic, the autoimmune disorder affects the thyroid gland, resulting in the overproduction of the thyroid hormone, also known as hyperthyroidism, the most common cause of which is Graves’ disease. A very common illness, it’s most prevalent among women and people younger than 40, with wide-ranging symptoms that can include heat sensitivity, weight loss, tremors, irregular heartbeat and potentially Graves’ ophthalmopathy, which develops in 1 out of 3 people with Graves’ disease and includes eye issues like bulging eyes, light sensitivity and eye pressure or irritation. Untreated Graves’ disease can lead to heart problems and osteoporosis, and treatments include medication like beta-blockers and antithyroid agents, as well as radioiodine therapy and surgery.
“One thing I can say: if I hadn’t chalked it all up to stress and fatigue, I would’ve caught this sooner,” she added. “A month ago, I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease. Within 24 hours of beginning treatment, I felt the light coming back on. It’s been increasing in strength ever since. If yours is dimming, even slightly, go get checked. Don’t ‘suck it up’ and transcend suffering; you deserve to be comfy. Sh–’s hard enough as is.”
Interspersed with the images of the actress were screenshots of texts sent to her parents: one seemingly prior to her diagnosis sent to her mom and the other presumably after treatment had begun sent to her dad. The former read: “I’m serious; I really really need relief. I feel nauseated tonight. I feel so sh– and removed from who I am, I can’t live like this forever. Or that long. There aren’t moments anymore, not even a passing 5 seconds, when I feel normal. I’ve never had that. Not one. It’s not just fatigue – it’s an ineffable, system wide cry for help and I don’t know how long I can remain in this state.” In the latter, she wrote, “I already feel a world of a difference, primary thought (as of now): ‘damn, this is how I’m supposed to feel? I’ve been missing out!’”
In the comments, industry peers shared supportive emojis, including The Boys‘ costar Susan Heyward and See actress Nesta Cooper. The Boys director Shana Stein wrote, “So happy you’re on the road to healing.”
Largely known for her work on Prime Video’s The Boys, Moriarty portrays supe Starlight/Annie January, who leaves the Seven to join the cause against the megalomaniacal Homelander (Antony Starr). While there’s no official release date for the fifth and final season of the Eric Kripke-created satire, due to be released next year, the cast teased a “climactic end” to Deadline at a recent FYC panel.
