Hollywood actress Evangeline Lilly has made a sobering health announcement, revealing she is now living with brain damage resulting from a serious accident last year.
A Difficult New Year's Revelation
The 46-year-old star, best known for her roles in Lost and the Ant-Man films, shared the news in a heartfelt video posted to Instagram on Friday, January 1st, 2026. She described it as challenging news to start the new year.
"It's late on January 1st, the first day of 2026, and I'm entering this new year with some bad news about my concussion," Lilly told her followers. "I got my brain scan results back, and almost every area of my brain is functioning at a decreased capacity."
Medical professionals confirmed the actress has suffered brain damage caused by a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Doctors are still investigating whether other factors contributed to her condition.
The Accident and Path to Diagnosis
Lilly's health struggles began months earlier. In a blog post from May 2025, she disclosed that she had fainted while at the beach, falling face-first onto a boulder. She noted a history of fainting spells dating back to her childhood.
The actress has been consistently updating fans on her recovery from what she initially described as a severe head injury and concussion. The recent scan results, however, provided the definitive and serious diagnosis of brain damage.
"So yes, I do have brain damage from the TBI," she stated plainly. "Now my job is to work with doctors to understand everything fully and then do the hard work of healing." Her current focus is on collaborating with medical experts to regain her cognitive strength.
Finding Silver Linings and Support
Despite the gravity of her situation, Lilly struck a reflective and surprisingly hopeful tone. She shared that the injury has forced her to slow down her famously busy life, leading to unexpected peace.
"My cognitive decline since I smashed my face open has actually helped me slow down," she revealed. "It gave me the calmest, most restful Christmas I've had in maybe 14 years, since I had children."
She expressed profound gratitude for her life and the opportunity to continue moving forward, thanking her global fanbase for their ongoing support and concern. "I'm feeling extraordinarily grateful and blessed to be able to play one more day, one more year on this beautiful living planet," she said.
The announcement prompted an immediate outpouring of love from colleagues and fans. Her Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania co-star Michelle Pfeiffer called her a "warrior," while fellow Lost actress Rebecca Mader sent words of love and encouragement.
As Evangeline Lilly embarks on this new chapter focused on healing, her story highlights the long-term impacts of head injuries and the importance of medical care and personal resilience.
