In a heartfelt and sobering update, acclaimed actor Evangeline Lilly has disclosed a serious medical diagnosis of brain damage. The revelation comes nearly a year after a frightening accident during a holiday in Hawaii.
The Accident and Initial Injuries
The incident occurred in May of last year, 2025, while Lilly was on the Hawaiian islands, a location famously linked to her breakout series 'Lost'. The 46-year-old actor fainted on a beach, leading to a severe fall where she struck her head directly on a boulder. The impact caused significant facial injuries that required immediate medical attention and stitches.
Lilly initially shared details of the accident publicly in a Substack post last May, including graphic photos of her stitched wounds between her nose and lip and on her chin. She has a history of fainting spells since childhood and has been diagnosed with hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar, which was likely a factor.
Scan Results Reveal Long-Term Impact
While the physical wounds healed, the neurological consequences emerged later. In a video posted on Instagram at the start of 2026, Lilly provided fans with an update on her condition following a brain scan. The results were concerning, indicating that almost every area of her brain is now functioning at a reduced capacity.
"I do have brain damage from the TBI (traumatic brain injury) and possibly other factors going on," Lilly stated in the video. "My job now is to get to the bottom of that with my doctors." She acknowledged the daunting road ahead, expressing that the necessary recovery work feels like "hard work is all I do."
Life Reassessment and Moving Forward
Despite the challenging diagnosis, Lilly struck a note of resilience and gratitude. The injury has forced her to slow down, leading to what she described as "the most restful Christmas holiday" since becoming a mother to her two sons, born in 2011 and 2015.
The 'Ant-Man' and 'Lost' star said the cognitive decline, while difficult, has helped her reassess her pace of life and relationship with work. She concluded her message with optimism, feeling "extraordinarily grateful and blessed to be able to play for one more day, one more year on this beautiful living planet."
Evangeline Lilly, born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, rose to global fame as Kate Austen on the hit series 'Lost', earning a Golden Globe nomination. She later starred in award-winning films like 'The Hurt Locker' and joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Hope van Dyne/The Wasp. Her health update has sparked a wave of support from fans and colleagues worldwide as she embarks on her recovery journey.
