Why Starlight From The Boys Looks So Familiar - Looper (2024)

Television

Why Starlight From The Boys Looks So Familiar - Looper (1)

Amazon Prime

ByTom MeisfjordandAJ Caulfield

Coming in strong onThe Boys' pilot episode, "The Name of the Game," the introduction of Starlight — aka Annie January — plays out as a sort of worst-case scenario of the old adage "never meet your heroes." Treating viewers to a flyover country-centric look at the world of celebrity, Starlight gives audience members a vicarious glimpse into the perceived powerlessness that can come with fame, a bevy of fresh takes on the loss of optimism, and a whole new lens through which to hate Aquaman.

Starlight is portrayed in the Amazon Prime series by actress Erin Moriarty, who, while certainly being a great performer, has a name that would fit a real-life supervillain.A native New Yorker, Moriarty has been popping up on the big and small screen for more than a decade. So, if you've been watchingThe Boys — which dropped its second season on Amazon Prime Video on September 4, 2020 — and wondering why Moriarty looks so familiar, you're certainly not alone.

Erin Moriarty's acting beginnings

Why Starlight From The Boys Looks So Familiar - Looper (2)

Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Moriarty's first credited role came in 2010, with a multi-episode arc on One Life to Live.Still a teenager at the time, Moriarty played head cheerleader Whitney Bennett, a character who's asked to the Llanview High School prom by heartthrob Nate Salinger (Lenny Platt)in an attempt to move past his infatuation with Danielle Rayburn (Kelley Missal)after Matthew Buchanan (Eddie Alderson) swooped in and blocked his advances ... not that any of that is even necessary to recap, since One Life to Live has kept decades-old storylines in the foreground of the public consciousness at all times, right?

From there, Moriarty had a one-off role on, appearing as Dru on the 2011 episode "Flight." The following year brought Moriarty her first feature film gig, playingChelsea McAllister in theAkiva Schaffer-directed sci-fi comedyThe Watch, starringBen Stiller, Jonah Hill, Vince Vaughn, and Richard Ayoade. (Moriarty's Chelsea was the teenage daughter of Vaughn's character Bob, who constantly spied on her.)

Then, in 2013, Moriarty landeda roleon the ABC drama seriesRed Widow as Natalie Walraven, the daughter of series protagonist and aspiring marijuana smuggler Marta (Radha Mitchell). The series ran for just eight episodes.

You might recognize Erin Moriarty from her role on True Detective

Why Starlight From The Boys Looks So Familiar - Looper (3)

HBO

Continuing her work in the television world, Moriarty booked a small but significant role on what many consider one of the best TV shows ever made:True Detective. On the much-loved first season of creatorNic Pizzolatto's gritty anthology crime drama, the actress played the teenage and young adult version ofAudrey Hart, the elder daughter ofWoody Harrelson'sDetective Martin "Marty" Hart.I Kill Giants andThe Conjuring 2 actress Madison Wolfe embodied young Audrey on earlier episodes, as the first season ofTrue Detective spanned many, many years — from 1995 to 2012.

In saying that, Moriarty herself looked fairly different throughout her short run onTrue Detective. During the points where the story was being told during Audrey's rebellious teen years, the actress donned dark eye makeup, black nail polish, fishnet tops and tights, and punk-ish hairstyles. Later, as the season neared its end, Moriarty's Audrey was fresh-faced and more mature.

The Boys isn't Erin Moriarty's first superhero rodeo

Why Starlight From The Boys Looks So Familiar - Looper (4)

Myles Aronowitz/Netflix

For seven episodes of Marvel's Jessica Jones,Moriartyappeared as Hope Shlottman, a victim of Kilgrave (David Tennant)who was forced to kill her own parents. ANew York University student who seeks the counsel of Jessica Jones' (Krysten Ritter) detective agencyAlias Investigations, Hope ends up developing a meaningful friendship with Jessica, who has her own harrowing past with Kilgrave.Sadly, things don't end well for Hope, but what happens to the young woman pushes Jessica to work harder and be that much more fearless in her quest to take down Kilgrave for good.

Following her stint onJessica Jones, Moriarty portrayed the daughter of Mel Gibson's character in 2016's Blood Father–a film that bravely asked the question, "How much of Taken can we borrow?" In 2018, Moriarty showed up in two motion pictures. The first, Driven, told the story of the DeLorean scandal of the 1980s. Monster Party was the second offering of the year, and saw Moriarty as an upper-cruster at the business end of a high-stakes Malibu heist, quite possibly with a terrible secret.

For now, Moriarty's schedule looks to be pretty full, thanks to her recurring role on The Boys.While Starlight's fate is very much up in the air heading into season 2 — what with the series' predilection for violent superhero deaths–a third season has already been ordered, and the door is (for now) still open for years of bio-luminescent justice.

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Why Starlight From The Boys Looks So Familiar - Looper (2024)

FAQs

Why does Starlight from The Boys look different? ›

The Boys season 4 sees Erin Moriarty look distinctly different, sparking rumors that she resorted to plastic surgery to maintain youthfulness for Starlight's role. In contrast to these claims, Starlight, the character Moriarty plays, is seen fighting for originality and self-acceptance in the show.

Did the actress who plays Starlight have plastic surgery? ›

Nose Job (Rhinoplasty)

Erin Moriarty's appearance has sparked discussions about rhinoplasty (nose surgery). Some fans comparing her before and after photos believe her nose appears thinner and more refined, particularly at the tip. They also note a possible reduction in a previous bridge bump.

Is Starlight really Singing in The Boys? ›

Behind the Scenes

Erin Moriarty, who plays Starlight, provided the vocals for this song. She later performed an in-universe music video for the song. The song was written by series composer Christopher Lennertz, with lyrics by Lennertz and The Boys writer and co-executive producer Michael Saltzman.

What happened to the actor who plays Starlight? ›

Moriarty, who plays Starlight on the Prime Video series, was previously forced to take an “extensive if not permanent” break from social media after being harassed over “reductive assumptions” about her appearance.

Why is Starlight so skinny now? ›

Erin Moriarty's Surgery

Some people believe she might have had liposuction, which is a surgery that helps remove extra fat from the body and might explain her new weight. Others are saying she might have had a facelift or plastic surgery to change the way her face looks.

Is Starlight more powerful than Homelander? ›

Homelander Is Stronger, But Starlight's Powers Are More Diversified. Homelander's sheer strength will likely never be matched by another supes in The Boys. Maeve and Black Noir, who are far stronger than most supes on the show, little could do against Homelander – and the same can be said about Soldier Boy.

Why did Starlight quit The Boys? ›

Starlight eventually strays from her path as a member of The Seven during the Believe Expo, in which she expresses her anger at Vought and the world in general, disillusioned by the harsh reality of being a superhero.

Who is Starlight a parody of? ›

3 Starlight Is Loosely Based on DC's Stargirl

Despite her character drawing similarities costume and powers-wise from DC's Stargirl, Starlight's character is by far the least satirical one.

Is Starlight from The Boys pregnant? ›

Since The Boys Season 4 is set around November 2024, Annie had an abortion in May 2024, six months before the events of the season. This means she terminated the pregnancy shortly after Season 3. This revelation by Firecracker is exposed to be part of a master plan by Sister Sage to tarnish Starlight's reputation.

Who is the fake Starlight in The Boys? ›

Hailing Erin Moriarty's performance as the fake Starlight, the director said there was just a stillness that she brought to her performance where she is just a bit more robotic. "...she (Erin Moriarty) is a natural.

How old is Starlight in real life? ›

The before and after pictures of actors always give fans a lot to talk about. This is the case when it comes to Erin Moriarty (29 years old), who plays Starlight in the Amazon Prime series 'The Boys', which is close to premiering its fourth season.

Who is Starlight modeled after? ›

Annie's Starlight appearance, especially her original costume, is based on DC heroines Mary Marvel, whereas her powers are based on Marvel's Dazzler, who also can generate light and use it as both heat and concussive force.

Why does MM look different in season 4? ›

As the first four episodes of season 4 began streaming this month, fans noticed MM's significant appearance change between seasons. Alonso says this is due to a little weight loss and a lot of reverence for the series' source material. Far right: Mother's Milk in The Boys.

Is Starlight a different actress? ›

Erin Elair Moriarty (born June 24, 1994) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Annie January / Starlight in the series The Boys (2019–present).

Why did Starlight change her suit? ›

She initially disregards Vought's attitude towards fighting criminals, dismayed at having her patrols arranged for her in "Cherry", and was coerced into wearing a skimpy and more sexualized version of her costume designed by the female costume designer of Vought who had also designed the Homelander's suit.

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