Ruby Rose found out she was allergic to latex during her role as Batwoman: ‘my whole face was just hives’

• Ruby Rose told Australian radio how her mask for "Batwoman" made her break out in hives.
• In 2020, Rose left her role as the lead of "Batwoman" despite the show being renewed.
• Rose said on the radio show that her reaction to the latex kept getting "worse and worse."
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Ruby Rose told an Australian radio show that a latex allergy was part of the reason for her sudden departure from CW's "Batwoman" series after its first season.

On "The Kyle and Jackie O Show" this week, Rose said she realized she was allergic to the costume while playing the lead role as Katy Kane.

She told the hosts: "Oh yeah, you ask anyone who has ever played a superhero or villain or anything with that costume. They're not fun. That's not really the fun part.

"I did find out that I was allergic to latex and unfortunately my cowl, which is the mask, is latex so I was like 'I'm a little itchy.' I was getting worse and worse because as you get more contact with it, you get more reactions."

The allergy was pretty serious as Rose explained that she once ended up with hives on her whole face. The actress said: "Eventually, I took off the cowl at the end and my whole face was hives. My throat was all messed up. It was like it was out of a scary movie."

Last year, the 35-year-old Australian actress announced that she was leaving the series in a statement after it was renewed for a second season. Whilst she did not say the reason for the departure in the original statement, she later explained some of the reasons in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

She told EW: "Being the lead of a superhero show is tough. Being the lead in anything is tough. But I think, in that particular instance, it was a lot more difficult because I was still recovering from my surgery. I had my surgery and then 10 days later I went to work, which maybe wasn't the best idea ... I just think that it was also time for me to take a break to fully heal and then return."

Rose revealed through a social media post in 2019 that she had to have surgery on her back after a serious stunt injury on the set of "Batwoman." Rose said in that interview that the injury was not the only factor in her decision to leave.

A post shared by Ruby Rose (@rubyrose)

The Australian actress was replaced in season 2 of "Batwoman" by Javicia Leslie who played a new protagonist, Alex Wilder. Katy Kane was also recast as Wallis Day who appeared later in the season.