What Caused Evangeline Lilly's Traumatic Brain Damage After Hawaii Fall? 'I Smashed My...'

Actress, Evangeline Lilly started the new year with "bad news" as she isn't in the best of health. On January 2, 2026, she revealed suffering from brain damage and cognitive decline following a severe head injury she sustained in May 2025. She shared a concussion update video on Instagram after receiving results from specialised brain scans. Evangeline, who announced her retirement from acting in June 2024, stated that the injury forced her into a much-needed period of stillness and that she felt "extraordinarily grateful" to be alive despite the diagnosis. Here's everything we know about her and her ailment.

What caused Evangeline Lilly's brain damage?

On January 2, 2026, Evangeline revealed she is suffering from brain damage following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained in May 2025. She recalled fainting on a beach at that time in Hawaii and falling face-first into a boulder, resulting in severe facial injuries and a concussion. Evangeline's injuries included a puncture hole in her face, a dislodged/broken front tooth and severe lacerations and bruising to her nose, chin, and mouth. While she was being transported to the hospital, a second blackout that occurred, making her condition seem serious.

Evangeline Lilly revealed that her recent brain scans showed "almost every area" of her brain is functioning at a decreased capacity. She initially mistook the "cognitive decline" as symptoms of perimenopause, however, later came to know that it was a result of a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). She noted there may be "possibly other factors" involved. Evangeline Lilly's fall was triggered by a fainting spell. The actress shared that she has experienced health issues since childhood. Thanking everyone who had been checking on her and praying for her recovery, Evangeline 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. Thank you all for always asking, for always caring, and for your continued prayers."

Evangeline shared that while her doctors previously attributed her blackouts to hypoglycemia, they currently can't confirm it as the definitive cause despite extensive testing. She is presently focused on recovery and has been resting well. Notably, Evangeline Lilly has retired from acting to focus on her health, and she described her efforts as "hard work." She stated:

“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. But that’s okay. 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.”

Who Is Evangeline Lilly? All about her career

Evangeline Lilly is a Canadian actress and author, widely recognised for her leading roles in major films and television franchises. Her breakthrough came with the Lost (2004–2010) character, 'Kate Austen', which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She is also known for her MCU role of 'Hope van Dyne' / 'The Wasp' in Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Avengers: Endgame, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The 46-year-old actress also appeared in The Hobbit Trilogy (2013–2014) and portrayed 'Tauriel' in The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies.

Evangeline's notable film appearances include the Academy Award-winning, The Hurt Locker (2008) and the sports drama, Real Steel (2011). In June 2024, Evangeline Lilly announced her retirement from Hollywood to focus on her family and humanitarian work. As of January 2026, she is currently on an indefinite hiatus from acting while recovering from a serious medical diagnosis.

Evangeline Lilly's life beyond acting

Evangeline Lilly is a woman of many talents. Prior to acting, she worked diverse jobs, including as a flight attendant and performing oil changes on big rig trucks to pay for her university tuition. She is the author of this ongoing children's book series, which she debuted at San Diego Comic-Con in 2013. She also worked as a missionary in the Philippines and has remained active in various non-profit organisations throughout her acting career. On the personal front, Evangeline has two children with her long-term partner, Norman Kali.

We wish Evangeline Lilly a speedy recovery.

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