Elliot Page developed shingles while filming "Inception" due to high levels of stress both on set and in his personal life.
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infection characterized by a painful rash and other symptoms such as fever and vision loss.
Page described shingles as a physical manifestation of the stress his body was experiencing during the movie shoot.
Despite enjoying the company of his co-workers, Page felt out of place in the predominantly male cast and struggled to understand his role.
Page joked about being replaced by Keira Knightley in the early days of filming due to his uncertainties about his character.
In "Inception," Page played an architecture student recruited to construct dreamscapes alongside other team members.
Page shot the film years before publicly announcing his gender transition from female to male and his attraction to women.
He navigated closeted relationships with women while keeping his own sexuality a secret, which added to his confusion and stress.
Research suggests that high levels of mental stress, like the stress Page faced, can increase the risk of shingles in men.