Evangeline Lilly, the actress famous for her roles in Lost and the Marvel franchise, shocked her fans when she announced that she would be stepping away from acting. She recently opened up about her decision to step away and also about her health. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostIn June 2024, Evangeline Lilly posted an Instagram post in which she elaborated on the fact that the very reason for distancing herself from fame and acting is what she had looked forward to almost two decades ago. Lilly shared an interview clip recorded in 2006 when Lilly starred in the popular show Lost. In the clip, Lilly admitted to the fact that her lifelong goal is not to be an actress in Hollywood.At the time, Lilly stated that her hopes for the future included eventually retiring from her acting career, focusing on her family life, writing, and helping with humanitarian causes.In the same post, another clip was also added, which was an old interview of Maya Angelou from 1987 on the British television program Mavis on Four, where Maya outlined her conviction that life is an ongoing process of growth and learning rather than a definitive state of being. The clip, as captioned by Lilly, was "perfectly articulating" how she felt about life.In the post, reflecting on the vision she experienced, Lilly wrote:"I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision. Praise God, I feel so grateful for my blessings. Stepping away from what seems like the obvious choice (wealth and fame) can feel scary at times, but stepping into your dharma replaces the fear with fulfillment."She added that she might return to the world of acting, but for now, she is content with where she is:"I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong. A new season has arrived, and I AM READY...and I AM HAPPY."Contrary to popular belief, Evangeline Lilly did not quit acting all of a sudden. The actress has given a few interviews now, explaining that she actually took a three-year hiatus, which began after finishing Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.Lilly maintained that she is not under any acting contracts nor is she looking for roles anymore, and said she could return “tomorrow, two years from now, or never.”Did Evangeline Lilly's health cause her to quit acting?In early 2026, worries about Evangeline Lilly escalated when she shared a health update that alarmed fans. The actress informed us that she had suffered a traumatic brain injury after she had fainted in Hawaii in May of 2025.According to Evangeline Lilly, she had blacked out and fallen face-first on a boulder. The results of the scans later confirmed a decrease in brain function in several sections, and the doctors confirmed she had suffered brain damage.Although Lilly had already stepped down from her Hollywood life before this injury, her health problems seem to have solidified her decision, rather than causing her to make it.She explained that the cognitive effects of the injury have rewired the way she thinks about time and rest. This has also been one of the most mellow holiday periods she has experienced in years. The accident has caused her to appreciate the gift of simply being alive even further.Since stepping down from Hollywood, Lilly has focused her energies on humanitarian work, family, and her writing on Substack, through her publication, 100 Deep Questions, which is currently ranked #53 in rising.Evangeline Lilly has taken care not to shut the door completely, as she said she might return to Hollywood "one day," although there is no timeline or pressure for her to do so.Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.