Evangeline Lilly Discloses Ongoing Struggles After Head Trauma

Canadian actor Evangeline Lilly has spoken candidly about the aftermath of a severe accident that left her with lasting neurological issues. The performer, known for her roles in The Hobbit, Lost, and the Marvel franchise, took to Instagram to update her followers on her condition, nearly a year after the incident occurred.

Back in May of the previous year, Lilly experienced a sudden fainting spell while at the seaside, resulting in a fall that left her face-first against a boulder. The consequences have been far from fleeting. She described the event in vivid detail, recalling the moment she regained consciousness:

I pull my face from the sand and take a breath. My mouth and nose are full of blood.

The episode was not entirely out of the blue, as she has dealt with similar blackouts since childhood, but this particular fall proved especially damaging.

Diagnosis and Daily Realities

After months of uncertainty, a recent scan brought unwelcome clarity. Lilly revealed that the results showed

almost every area in my brain is functioning at a decreased capacity

—a sobering diagnosis. She explained,

So I do have brain damage from the TBI [traumatic brain injury] and possibly other factors going on,

before adding,

But now my job is to get to the bottom of that with 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 gravity of her situation, she maintains a certain acceptance. The cognitive changes, she says, have forced her to slow her pace, offering an unexpected opportunity for rest as the year drew to a close.

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.

Stepping Away from the Spotlight

Lilly has not appeared in any new productions for three years, having chosen to step back from the industry. Her last screen role was in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in 2023. In an interview last June, she made it clear she had no immediate plans to return to acting, instead focusing her energy on humanitarian projects and writing.

Reflecting on her history of fainting, she offered a personal perspective on these episodes:

I have come to believe that this ‘checking out’ is a result of my little soul reaching her limit of what she feels she can cope with in this life, and she ‘leaves the building,’ so to speak.

The actor’s openness about her health struggles has resonated with many, as she continues to navigate the challenges of recovery and rehabilitation.