The “Lost” actress has struggled with cognitive deficits since the fall in Hawaii. Now Evangeline Lilly is giving an update on her recovery.
Evangeline Lilly has revealed that she suffered brain damage after falling in Hawaii last year. The incident occurred in May 2025 when the actress known from the series “Lost” lost consciousness while on the beach and fell face-down on a boulder. At the time, Lilly shared pictures of the injured side of her face on social media.
The 45-year-old, who in addition to her role in “Lost” also starred as The Wasp in Marvel’s “Ant-Man” films as well as in “Deadly Command” and Peter Jackson’s “Hobbit” trilogy, initially suffered a concussion. A few weeks after the accident, she announced that she would be retiring from acting indefinitely. Now there is news from her.
Doctors diagnose functional impairments in the brain
On January 2, 2025, Evangeline Lilly updated her Instagram followers on the current status of her recovery and confirmed the diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI). “The verdict is in… I actually have brain damage from my TBI,” Lilly said on her Instagram account. On the one hand, it is reassuring to know that her cognitive decline is not only due to the perimenopause, but on the other hand, it is worrying “what an uphill battle it will be to reverse the deficits”. She thanked her fans for their interest and continued prayers.
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Brain scans have shown that “almost every area in my brain functions with reduced capacity,” the Mimin continued. Your task now is to work with doctors to determine the exact causes and begin the “hard work” of rehabilitation. Despite the difficult diagnosis, she emphasized that the cognitive decline helped her end 2025 more calmly.
Supporting colleagues and focusing on family
Among the numerous reactions to her Instagram post was an encouraging message from her “Ant-Man” co-star Michelle Pfeiffer: “You are a fighter. Nothing – not even this – will defeat you.”
When announcing her hiatus last year, Lilly explained that stepping away from “wealth and fame” can seem scary at first, but following one’s Dharma replaces fear with fulfillment. She doesn’t rule out a return to Hollywood, but feels right at her current place at the moment. She wants to dedicate her time to her family and humanitarian projects. “A new phase of life has begun and I am READY…and I am HAPPY,” she concluded her message.
Matthew Fox and Josh Holloway: careers after the “Lost” finale
Other main actors in the cult series “Lost,” which ran from 2004 to 2010, have also taken different paths. Matthew Fox, the Dr. Jack Shephard largely retreated from the limelight after a few film roles like “World War Z” and concentrates on his private life in Oregon.
Josh Holloway, known as James “Sawyer” Ford, has appeared in series such as “Colony” and “Yellowstone” and remains committed to acting, albeit with more selective projects.
Daniel Dae Kim, who portrayed Jin-Soo Kwon, went on to become a successful producer and actor with roles in Hawaii Five-0 and The Good Doctor.
Jorge Garcia, who became a cult figure as Hugo “Hurley” Reyes, continues to work in film and television, including “Becker” and various guest appearances.
Terry O’Quinn (John Locke) and Michael Emerson (Benjamin Linus) both remain active in the industry and regularly take on character roles in various productions.