Fifty Shades of Grey" star Jamie Dornan's shocking health scare linked to toxic caterpillars

Although over five years have passed since the final installment of the erotic film trilogy featuring Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, viewers continue to associate Dornan with his iconic role. His convincing portrayal of E.L. James's character in Sam Taylor-Johnson's debut film and James Foley's sequels left a lasting imprint. Nevertheless, the Irish actor has been dealing with significant health-related stress lately.

Website "Page Six" reported Dornan's health struggles, citing information from Dornan's friend, Gordon Smart, who also had health concerns. During a recent trip to Portugal, Dornan was rushed to the hospital after experiencing symptoms akin to a heart attack. Shockingly, his debilitating condition was traced back to an encounter with toxic caterpillars.

Smart, a journalist and star of Kenneth Branagh's "Belfast," confessed in the BBC podcast "The Good, the Bad and the Unexpected" that they initially linked their health troubles to excessive drinking the previous night. However, they were astonished to discover that their exposure to processionary caterpillars, known for their toxicity, had caused their symptoms.

The hairs of these caterpillars contain an irritant protein that can affect human skin, eyes, and throat. In Portugal, these critters have been identified as the culprits behind many dog deaths and even heart attacks in 40-year-old men. Both Smart and Dornan experienced limb numbness and sought medical attention. As Smart shared, the medical rescuers requested a group photo with the film star as he exited the hospital.

Earlier this January, the second season of "The Tourist," starring Jamie Dornan, premiered on the HBO Max platform. The series is also available on Player. A biopic by Jim Sheridan titled "H-Block," featuring the Irish actor alongside Cillian Murphy and Pierce Brosnan, is also set for release soon.