Former Hollywood star Evangeline Lilly has delivered a devastating health update to her fans, confirming she has been left with brain damage following a serious accident last year.
A Sobering New Year's Revelation
The 46-year-old actress, best known for her roles in Lost and Marvel's Ant-Man films, took to Instagram on the first day of 2026 to share the shocking results of recent medical scans. In a video posted to her followers, Lilly explained that her brain is now functioning at a decreased capacity.
"The results came back from the scans, and I missed every area, and my brain is functioning at a decreased capacity," she stated. "So, I do have brain damage from the TBI, and possibly other factors going on." TBI stands for Traumatic Brain Injury.
The Accident That Changed Everything
This diagnosis comes nearly seven months after the actress first shared graphic images of severe facial injuries. The incident occurred when Lilly fainted at a beach and fell face-first onto a boulder, requiring immediate hospital treatment.
In a caption accompanying her New Year's Day video, she wrote: "Verdict's in...I do have brain damage from my tbi. 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."
Finding Silver Linings in a Difficult Journey
Despite the grim news, Lilly attempted to find a positive perspective. She noted that the cognitive challenges since her accident have forced her to slow down, leading to what she described as the most restful holiday season she has ever experienced.
"My cognitive decline since I smashed my face open has helped me to slow down and helped me to have a more restful finished 2025," she reflected in the video. "[I'm] feeling extraordinarily grateful and blessed to be able to play one more day, one more year on this beautiful living planet."
The actress, who announced her retirement from acting in 2025 after a 20-year career, now faces a new battle. Her immediate focus is working with doctors to understand the full extent of the damage before beginning the arduous process of rehabilitation.
Lilly's last major film role was in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in February 2023, where she reprised her role as Hope van Dyne, also known as The Wasp.
