Evangeline Lilly, best known for her roles in "Ant-Man" and "Lost," has shared a health update with her fans, revealing that she has been diagnosed with brain damage following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) she sustained in May 2025. The 46-year-old actress disclosed the news in an Instagram video on January 2, 2026, explaining that recent brain scans showed "almost every area in my brain is functioning at a decreased capacity".
Lilly's injury occurred while she was on vacation in Hawaii when she fainted at the beach and fell face-first into a boulder. The accident resulted in a severe concussion, cuts, and bruising. In May 2025, she shared details of the accident on Substack, including photos of her face with stitches.
In her recent Instagram update, Lilly stated, "Verdict's in...I do have brain damage from my tbi. Comforting to know my cognitive decline isn't just perimenopause, discomforting to know what an uphill battle it will be to try to reverse the deficiencies. Thank you all for always asking, for always caring, and for your continued prayers". She also mentioned that she is working with doctors to determine the full extent of the damage and to develop a plan for recovery. "So I do have brain damage from the TBI and possibly other factors going on," Lilly said. "My job is to get to the bottom of that with the doctors and then embark on the hard work of fixing it, which I don't look forward to because I feel like hard work is all I do".
Despite the diagnosis, Lilly expressed gratitude and a positive outlook. She noted that the injury has forced her to slow down and appreciate a more restful pace of life. "My cognitive decline since I smashed my face open has helped me to slow down and helped me to have a more restful finish to my 2025," Lilly shared. "I think this was the calmest, most restful Christmas holiday I have had, maybe since I had children, so 14 years ago. So that's a good thing". She concluded her post by saying how “grateful” and “blessed” she is.
Lilly had announced in 2024 that she would be taking a step away from Hollywood. Since "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" in 2023, she has not worked on any film projects.
Lilly's career has been marked by hard work and determination. Before her breakthrough role as Kate Austen in the television series "Lost," she worked various jobs to pay her way through college. She soon became a movie star by appearing in the "Ant-Man" and "The Hobbit" franchises.
The actress has received an outpouring of support from fans and fellow celebrities, including Michelle Pfeiffer and Alyssa Milano.
