Canadian actor Evangeline Lilly has publicly disclosed that she is suffering from brain damage, a direct result of a traumatic head injury sustained earlier this year.
A Devastating Diagnosis Following a Serious Fall
The 46-year-old star, famous for her roles in Lost, The Hobbit film series, and as the Wasp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, shared the sobering news via a video posted to her Instagram account. This update comes several months after the initial incident in May, when she fainted on a beach and fell face-first onto a boulder, suffering a significant concussion.
Lilly explained that a recent brain scan delivered difficult results. "Almost every area in my brain is functioning at a decreased capacity," she revealed. "So I do have brain damage from the TBI (traumatic brain injury) and possibly other factors going on." She stated that her focus is now on working with doctors to understand the full extent of the damage before beginning the arduous process of rehabilitation.
The Accident and a History of Fainting Spells
Shortly after the accident occurred, Lilly provided graphic details about the fall on her Substack platform. She described waking with her mouth and nose full of blood after blacking out. Her partner witnessed the frightening event, with Lilly noting he said "when I black out, I look like I die. He gets very afraid. My eyes roll back in my head and all life leaves my body."
The actor has experienced fainting spells since childhood, initially attributed to hypoglycemia before that was ruled out. She has previously reflected that these episodes may be a psychological coping mechanism when she feels overwhelmed. Despite the severity of her latest injury, which left her with a bloodied face and a damaged tooth, she expressed a strange sense of gratitude for the "reset" it provided.
Navigating Recovery and a Hiatus from Acting
In her Instagram caption accompanying the diagnosis video, Lilly expressed mixed feelings. She found it "comforting to know my cognitive decline isn't just perimenopause," but also "discomforting to know what an uphill battle it will be to try to reverse the deficiencies." She acknowledged the challenge ahead, joking that hard work seems to be all she does, but accepted it as a necessary path to healing.
Her Marvel co-star, Michelle Pfeiffer, offered words of support in the comments, calling Lilly a "warrior" whom nothing would defeat.
Lilly has been on a break from acting for three years, with her last role being Hope van Dyne in 2023's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. In a June statement to Variety, she confirmed she is "not actively pursuing any work in the industry" and is instead dedicating her time to humanitarian efforts and writing.
