Evangeline Lilly's New Year Brings Uncertainty: Brain Damage After Hawaii Accident
In a candid Instagram post, actress Evangeline Lilly revealed the devastating news that she has suffered brain damage following a traumatic accident in Hawaii last year. The Ant-Man and the Wasp star, known for her roles in Lost and other blockbuster films, shared a harrowing account of how she lost consciousness after fainting and falling face-first onto a boulder.
According to Lilly, doctors have diagnosed her with a traumatic brain injury, which has left widespread impairment across her brain. "Almost every area in my brain is functioning at a decreased capacity," she revealed in a recorded video message on January 1.
The revelation comes as no surprise, given Lilly's previous struggles with unexplained fainting spells since childhood. In a May 2025 Substack essay, the actress shared that she had experienced recurring "absent" and fainting spells throughout her life, including episodes of hypoglycemia - a condition characterized by abnormally low blood sugar levels.
However, Lilly's experience defied medical explanation, with doctors initially evaluating her for epilepsy before later diagnosing her with hypoglycemia without conducting formal testing. The actress acknowledged that she had accepted this diagnosis, but as she grew older and underwent extensive blood work, the explanation no longer held up.
Lilly's decision to prioritize rest at the end of 2025 proved to be a turning point in her recovery, bringing unexpected peace and allowing her to approach her health with renewed clarity. "I think this was the calmest, most restful Christmas holiday I have had, maybe since I had children," she said.
With her diagnosis confirmed, Lilly has shifted her focus towards understanding the extent of her injury and committing to recovery - an endeavor that promises to be both physically and emotionally challenging. As she embarks on this difficult journey, the actress is determined to confront the difficulties head-on, acknowledging that "hard work is all I do." Despite the uphill battle ahead, Lilly remains optimistic, expressing gratitude for the support of her fans and a newfound appreciation for life.
In a candid Instagram post, actress Evangeline Lilly revealed the devastating news that she has suffered brain damage following a traumatic accident in Hawaii last year. The Ant-Man and the Wasp star, known for her roles in Lost and other blockbuster films, shared a harrowing account of how she lost consciousness after fainting and falling face-first onto a boulder.
According to Lilly, doctors have diagnosed her with a traumatic brain injury, which has left widespread impairment across her brain. "Almost every area in my brain is functioning at a decreased capacity," she revealed in a recorded video message on January 1.
The revelation comes as no surprise, given Lilly's previous struggles with unexplained fainting spells since childhood. In a May 2025 Substack essay, the actress shared that she had experienced recurring "absent" and fainting spells throughout her life, including episodes of hypoglycemia - a condition characterized by abnormally low blood sugar levels.
However, Lilly's experience defied medical explanation, with doctors initially evaluating her for epilepsy before later diagnosing her with hypoglycemia without conducting formal testing. The actress acknowledged that she had accepted this diagnosis, but as she grew older and underwent extensive blood work, the explanation no longer held up.
Lilly's decision to prioritize rest at the end of 2025 proved to be a turning point in her recovery, bringing unexpected peace and allowing her to approach her health with renewed clarity. "I think this was the calmest, most restful Christmas holiday I have had, maybe since I had children," she said.
With her diagnosis confirmed, Lilly has shifted her focus towards understanding the extent of her injury and committing to recovery - an endeavor that promises to be both physically and emotionally challenging. As she embarks on this difficult journey, the actress is determined to confront the difficulties head-on, acknowledging that "hard work is all I do." Despite the uphill battle ahead, Lilly remains optimistic, expressing gratitude for the support of her fans and a newfound appreciation for life.
evangeline lilly's story got me thinking - like, what if we all just accepted our bodies' flaws instead of trying to "fix" them? i mean, she had these unexplained health issues since childhood... maybe some ppl are just wired differently 
and that's okay. instead of fighting it, she found peace in rest & acceptance... who says we need to push thru when our bodies say "hey, slow down"? 
i'm all for her being proactive about her recovery, but sometimes I think we overdo it on the self-care 
Brain damage from an accident in Hawaii? That's crazy! I feel so bad for her, she's been dealing with these unexplained health issues since childhood 
Her fans are totally going to rally around her! It's great that she's being open about it, too - we need more people talking about mental/physical health stuff 
just heard about Evangeline Lilly's accident in Hawaii last year 
it's crazy how brain damage can sneak up on you like that she was already dealing with these weird fainting spells since childhood 
i feel bad for her having to deal with the aftermath of something so traumatic...but I'm glad she's taking this time to focus on herself and getting better 
. i think thats something we can all learn from - embracing uncertainty and being open to change can be scary but it can also lead to growth and a deeper understanding of ourselves 
. lets make 2025 about self-reflection, taking care of each other, and finding the peace in the midst of chaos 
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. But honestly, her honesty is really inspiring - she could've kept this private and just faked a 'normal life' but instead she chose to spread awareness about traumatic brain injuries 
. And can we talk about how amazing it is that she's determined to face the challenges head-on? That's what I call strength 
.
she's been dealing with unexplained fainting spells since childhood and doctors were like "epilepsy" but now they're saying hypoglycemia 
hope she gets the help she needs 
oh noooo evangeline lilly 
she's been through so much already with those weird fainting spells 
it's like her body just can't catch a break 
. at least she's prioritizing rest and taking care of herself 
let's hope the recovery journey goes smoothly and you come out even stronger 
she's so brave to share this with us... brain damage can be super scary but i'm glad she's prioritizing rest & getting a new perspective on life 
OMG, poor Evangeline Lilly 
. I'm rooting for her, though - she seems like a strong person who'll tackle this head-on 
. And now they're saying it's a traumatic brain injury from the accident in Hawaii? It sounds like they're covering something up 
. I'm not buying it. What if this is all part of some bigger scheme to silence her or keep her from talking about whatever is really going on? 
, you know? And now she's got brain damage... what if it was something else entirely? What if the doctors were covering up some kinda conspiracy? 
Like, think about it, she's been having these episodes since childhood and they just start diagnosing her with hypoglycemia without a second thought. It doesn't add up 
.
that's like, super scary! 
and she's been having these fainting spells since childhood? 
how do u even deal with that? 
i feel bad that the doctors didn't figure out what was going on with her blood sugar levels back when she was younger... anyway, it sounds like rest and patience are gonna be key for her recovery 
. I mean, traumatic brain injury is no joke - it's like, how do you even come back from that? 
. I hope her fans are being super supportive and not putting too much pressure on her to perform soon 
. It's great that she's acknowledging the challenges ahead and staying optimistic - that takes a lot of courage