Canadian actress Evangeline Lilly has shared a sobering health update with her fans, revealing that she is suffering from brain damage following a serious concussion sustained last year. The star, best known for her roles in Lost and the Ant-Man films, disclosed the "bad news" in a recent Instagram video, detailing the lasting impact of her accident.
A Serious Fall and Lasting Consequences
The incident occurred back in May, when Lilly fainted at a beach and fell face first into a boulder. She had previously shared the story and a photo of her injury with followers. In her recent update, the actress explained that she has since undergone brain scans, and the results were concerning. "The results came back from the scans [that] showed that almost every area in my brain is functioning at a decreased capacity," Lilly stated in the video.
She confirmed the diagnosis directly in her Instagram caption, writing, "I do have brain damage from my [traumatic brain injury]." Lilly expressed mixed feelings about the findings, noting it was "comforting to know my cognitive decline isn't just peri-menopause" but "discomforting to know what an uphill battle it will be to try to reverse the deficiencies."
Navigating Recovery and a New Perspective
Lilly, who is entering the Lunar New Year—the Year of the Horse—with this challenging news, outlined her next steps. Her immediate job is to "get to the bottom of that with doctors and then embark on the hard work of fixing it." She admitted she doesn't look forward to the arduous recovery process, quipping that "hard work is all I do."
However, the actress also shared a silver lining from her experience. She said the cognitive decline following the accident has "helped me to slow down and helped me to have a more restful finish to my 2025." This forced pause has offered an unexpected perspective amid a difficult health journey.
Support from Friends and Fans
The news prompted an outpouring of support from Lilly's celebrity friends and fans in the comments of her post. Fellow actor Michelle Pfeiffer offered words of encouragement, writing, "You are a warrior. Nothing-not even this will defeat you my friend." Alyssa Milano also chimed in with a simple but heartfelt, "Thinking about you."
Lilly took a moment to thank her followers for their concern, expressing gratitude "for always asking, for always caring, and for your continued prayers." She also provided additional context on her Substack, revealing that she has dealt with "fainting spells since I was a little girl," which adds a layer of complexity to the incident that caused her traumatic brain injury.
As Evangeline Lilly begins the challenging work of addressing her brain function deficiencies, her candid update has shed light on the serious and often long-term effects of concussions and traumatic brain injuries.
