Evangeline Lilly, known for her role in the television series *Lost* and the *Ant-Man* films, has revealed that she is dealing with brain damage following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained earlier this year. The 46-year-old actress disclosed the details in a video posted on her Instagram account on January 1, 2026, marking a challenging entry into the new year.
In May, Lilly fainted at a beach and fell face-first onto a boulder, which led to her TBI. She underwent a series of tests to assess the extent of her injury, and the results were disheartening. “The results came back from the scans, and I missed every area,” Lilly explained. “My brain is functioning at a decreased capacity. So, I do have brain damage from the TBI, and possibly other factors going on.”
Despite the difficult news, Lilly expressed a determination to address her health issues. She emphasized her willingness to engage in the “hard work” necessary to recover. “Now, my job is to get to the bottom of that with the doctors, and then embark on the hard work of fixing it,” she stated. Lilly noted that her cognitive decline has prompted her to slow down, allowing her to enjoy a more restful conclusion to 2025.
In her update, she shared that the holiday season had been one of the most restful she had ever experienced. “That’s a good thing. (I’m) feeling extraordinarily grateful and blessed to be able to play one more day, one more year on this beautiful living planet,” Lilly added.
The actress acknowledged that she faces an “uphill battle” in her recovery journey. She remarked, “Comforting to know my cognitive decline isn’t just peri-menopause, discomforting to know what an uphill battle it will be to try to reverse the deficiencies.” She expressed gratitude to her fans for their support, saying, “Thank you all for always asking, for always caring, and for your continued prayers.”
Lilly’s accident, which she described in detail on her Instagram back in May, highlighted her immediate response at the hospital. “The nurses and doctor went straight into action, more determined to find the cause of my blackout than to stitch up the hole punctured into my face by the rock,” she recalled. “I smiled wryly at them. ‘You won’t find anything,’ I said with a woozy voice.”
As Lilly embarks on her recovery journey, her openness about her struggles underscores the importance of addressing health issues and seeking help. Her experience serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of health and the resilience required to navigate such challenges.
