'The Pitt' superglue star on real eye gluing, boyfriend Patrick Ball

Elysia Roorbach made a notable TV acting debut on HBO's "The Pitt," playing Willow Baptiste, a July 4th weekend cautionary tale who superglues her eye shut while attaching a fake eyelash.

The recurring role for Roorbach, 25, which continues in the Jan. 29 Ep. 4 (9 ET/PT), is even more compelling because of two key behind-the-scenes details:

• Stressed-out patient Willow is hilariously dismissive of dreamy Dr. Frank Langdon, played by Patrick Ball, who is Roorbach's real-life boyfriend of three years.
• That's not make-up or prosthetics. The medically hyperrealistic "The Pitt" team sealed Roorbach's left eyelid for Willow shooting days.

"So it was a skin adhesive, but my eye was actually glued shut," Roorbach tells USA TODAY of the work behind the scenes. "It wasn't [even] an eyelash glue, and it wasn't superglue by any means."

Roorbach had plenty of warning. After auditioning for and landing the Willow role, the show's producers explained the realistic protocol for which the medical drama is famous. It's not for everyone.

"They said, 'In order to do this, and in order for you to do your performance properly, you're actually going to need to get your eye glued shut,'" says Roorbach, who agreed and was tested to make sure she wasn't allergic to the "very, strong adhesive."

The actress held her eye closed during the rehearsal scenes. But before the cameras rolled, the adhesive was applied. The compound is so water-soluble that even when Willow tears up, expressing concern about going blind because of the ocular misstep, the salty tears disrupted the scene.

"The eyelid would come unstuck. And I'd have to run out and get it glued again," Roorbach says.

All precautions were taken. Roorbach was escorted everywhere on set after the adhesive was set.

"It was disorientating, and my balance was all weird. They were worried that I would trip," she says. "Which is fair because I'm naturally clumsy anyway."

Real-life boyfriend Patrick Ball adds a subtext to the TV drama

Willow's realistic encounter with the subtly amused Dr. Langdon is even more effective when Roorbach's real-life partner, Ball, 36, plays the ER doctor administering to the patient. Willow doesn't trust his medical skills.

Roorbach and Ball met in 2023 in Miami, where they worked together on the play "LasAventuras de Juan Planchard."

"Which is a really interesting way to meet somebody and then fall in love with somebody," Roorbach says.  

Roorbach has been on a separate auditioning track from Ball, unsuccessfully auditioning for a Season 1 part in "The Pitt." Ball's career has exploded since landing the Dr. Langdon role.

"It has really kick-started his career. It's been this unbelievable high magnitude ride for Patrick," says Roorbach, who booked the Willow audition separately.

"I was told when I got it, that I would have a scene with Patrick. But I didn't know I had like five scenes with Patrick," Roorbach says. "It was so special that I'd come from hair and make-up and my scene partner would walk in, and it was Patrick."

The duo have obvious chemistry and play the comedy perfectly. Even before Episode 4, Roorbach says she was hearing from her universe about the TV debut. The Maine native got solid marks with a Portland Press Herald profile, while old friends, acting coaches and past teachers have reached out.

"People are like, 'Oh my God, I was just watching 'The Pitt' and you just popped up,'" Roorbach says. "It just goes to show that 'The Pitt' has really captured the public eye, no pun intended. There's been this outpouring of excitement from people. It's just a very special moment."

After the first Jan. 15 episode featuring Roorbach aired, Ball shared a celebratory message on his Instagram Story that noted Willow's TV disdain for Langdon.  "Even if [Willow] didn’t want anything to do with me. Boo killed it," Ball wrote.

How real is 'The Pitt' superglue scene?

Dr. Joe Sachs, a practicing ER physician and "The Pitt" executive producer, says variations of the superglue scene are common.

"Any experienced emergency worker will tell you they have seen something like this 100% of the time," Sachs says. "There are times when people mistake superglue for eye drops, which leads to even more serious complications."