Barry Keoghan Recalls Fighting Flesh-Eating Disease Before Filming Oscar-Nominated Role

Barry Keoghan nearly lost his arm and his life to a bad case of necrotizing fasciitis .

The Irish actor was about to start filming Martin McDonaghs Banshees of Inisherin (2022) when he caught the flesh-eating disease. In an interview for GQs February cover story published Tuesday, he recalled learning about his options from concerned doctors.

Keoghan told the outlet they considered an amputation and informed him that one in five cases are fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the bacterial infection spreads rapidly and is deadly if left untreated with surgery or antibiotics.

Keoghan still recalls asking if he was going to die, only to be told: Well, we dont know.

McDonagh himself remembered visiting Keoghan at the hospital mere days before principal photography began. While the director endearingly told Keoghan to remember this when youve been nominated for an Oscar, he was genuinely worried.

Im not sure if he was on a lot of meds, but he seemed to shrug it off, McDonagh told GQ. We were only about four days out from shooting, and his arm was puffed up. But he was like, Yeah, no, Im going to be fine Ill see you Tuesday!

He continued: I went to the hospital thinking, Shit is he going to die?

The rest is history: Keoghan not only got to keep his arm, but fulfilled McDonaghs prophecy after wrapping Banshees and receiving a Best Supporting Actor nomination   though he ultimately lost to Ke Huy Quan at last years ceremony.

Keoghan not only went on to film this years Saltburn opposite Jacob Elordi, but became a father during production. He shares son Brando with ex Alyson Sandro.

Despite becoming an A-lister, Keoghan still seemingly has that boyish wonder that drew him to Tinseltown in the first place.

Looking out at the [Hollywood] sign and yknow, I wanted this as a kid, he told GQ.

I dunno why but I wanted it, Keoghan continued. It brings back memories, in a weird way its hard to have memories of place youve not been in, but I watched all those old movies, and was fascinated by old Hollywood. This was stuff I dreamt of, as a kid.

Read the full cover story interview at GQ.