Superman star Anthony Carrigan says alopecia is his superpower
Anthony Carrigan plays Metamorpho in Superman, and during a new interview, he said that his struggle with alopecia morphed into his own superpower.
Carrigan’s first major TV role was in The Forgotten, before he rose to prominence as Victor Zsasz in Gotham, then truly broke through as NoHo Hank in Barry.
He’s since landed movie roles in the likes of Bill & Ted Face the Music and Death of a Unicorn, while Carrigan is currently starring in the biggest movie on the planet, playing Metamorpho in James Gunn’s Superman.
The actor has also suffered from alopecia for most of his life, which is a condition whereby hair is lost from most or all of the body. And in a new interview with Stephen Colbert, Carrigan has explained how that has affected both his life and his career.
How Anthony Carrigan learned to accept his alopecia
Anthony Carrigan as Victor Zsasz in Gotham
During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the host asked what it was like starting out in an industry that puts such a premium on standard normative looks.
“It was obviously quite a journey,” said Carrigan. “Because when I had it – you know, I’ve had it since I was a kid – I would cover it up because it was just spots at that time. So it started as something I would cover up and there was a lot of shame over. I didn’t really like anyone knowing I had alopecia.
“Then getting into the industry – obviously I chose the right industry to get into – but eventually I got to the place where, after being told I was never going to act again… you’re not attractive anymore, you should stop. And this was when my hair was really going.
“So I found something within myself – this kind of self-acceptance – that I’d never had as a kid. And now, that’s like my superpower.”
Superman is still in cinemas, while Carrigan will next be seen in Season 2 of Twisted Metal, which kicks off on July 31, 2025.
For more Man of Steel, head here for our ranking of the Superman movies plus Superman salary details, while the following are our picks for the best superhero movies ever.
