Actor Barry Keoghan has opened up about having been treated for a life-threatening infection shortly before he began working on an acclaimed project in his career.
Barry, 32, recalled once having necrotising fasciitis whilst on the latest episode of the Louis Theroux Podcast. He told Louis Theroux, 54, that it was just weeks before production on the film the Banshees of Inisherin (2022) began.
The NHS, which notes that necrotising fasciitis is also known as the "flesh-eating disease," describes it as "a rare and life-threatening infection that can happen if a wound gets infected". It adds: "Necrotising fasciitis gets worse quickly and can be fatal. It must be treated in hospital as soon as possible." The NHS lists antibiotics and surgery to remove the affected area as potential treatment options.
Discussing the experience, Barry said on the podcast: "That was quite a tough journey. I got this necrotizing fasciitis." He continued by saying: "That was quite a scary experience, and that happened like two weeks before production."
He went on to recall filmmaker Martin McDonagh - who wrote and directed the film - visiting him in hospital after Barry had surgery. He said that Martin questioned at the time if the actor would still be able to do the project. Barry continued in the episode: "They wanted to amputate the arm […] and they were telling me if, we don't catch it, there's a chance you could possibly die."
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WWD via Getty Images)Further talking about the experience, he told Louis: "They said 'we're just going to let you know that there's a possibility of death here if it spreads or we'll have to amputate the arm.' I just didn't take it in, you get some sort of PTSD from it. I don't think I've really dealt with it yet."
Barry, according to quotes released ahead of the episode's release, said whilst discussing how he got the wound that was eventually infected: "I got hit with a bottle. There was a disagreement. It was disagreement in a pub."
The actor previously spoke about the experience with GQ magazine in an interview published earlier this year. At the time, the outlet noted that he had "scar tissue" on his arm as a result of once having necrotizing fasciitis.
Barry starred in the Banshees of Inisherin alongside the likes of Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Kerry Condon. The film received much acclaim and Barry was later nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars. He had already won a BAFTA for his performance in the film by then.
The Louis Theroux Podcast is available on Spotify now.
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