Barry Keoghan says he contracted a rare flesh-eating disease that nearly led to his arm being amputated

• Barry Keoghan said he contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and life-threatening infection, in 2021.
• He told GQ that amputation "was on the table" and doctors were unsure if he'd survive the infection.
• According to the CDC, one in five people who contract the flesh-eating bacteria infection die.

Barry Keoghan said he contracted a rare and life-threatening infection in 2021 that almost cost him his life.

In a new interview with GQ, the Irish actor revealed that days before he began shooting "The Banshees of Inisherin," he learned he had necrotizing fasciitis — also known as flesh-eating disease.

In the GQ profile, writer Alex Pappademas noted that Keoghan has a "gnarly scar tissue that winds its way up his arm like a snake tattoo."

The scar — which appears around the elbow on the actor's right arm — can be seen during shirtless scenes in Keoghan's latest film, "Saltburn," and caught the attention of some fans, who took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to question what it was.

Keoghan, 31, didn't share how he came to develop the bacterial infection but said that amputation "was on the table" and doctors were unsure if he'd survive.

The actor said he asked the doctors, "But I'm not gonna die, right?" to which they responded: "Well, we don't know."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bacteria that cause necrotizing fasciitis can enter the body through a break in the skin, such as cuts, scrapes, burns, puncture wounds, and insect bites.

Per the CDC, one in five people who get the flesh-eating infection die.

The writer and director of "The Banshees Of Inisherin," Martin McDonagh, told GQ that he checked in on Keoghan after he was admitted to hospital.

McDonagh recalled: "I'm not sure if he was on a lot of meds, but he seemed to shrug it off."

"We were only about four days out from shooting, and his arm was puffed up. But he was like 'Yeah, no, I'm going to be fine — I'll see you on Tuesday,'" he added.

"I went to the hospital thinking, 'Shit, is he going to die?'" McDonagh continued. "Let alone, 'Is he going to make the movie?' But I came out of there energized and looking forward to it."

Keoghan said McDonagh told him in the hospital to "just remember this when you've been nominated for an Oscar," which is exactly what happened.

For his role as village simpleton Dominic in the black comedy, Keoghan landed his first Academy Award nomination last year.

Georgie Henley, who played Lucy in "The Chronicles of Narnia," previously opened up about her experience developing necrotizing fasciitis at age 18, which likewise left her in a life-threatening condition and requiring surgeries to avoid losing her arm.