Evangeline Lilly announced on Instagram that she has taken a step back from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, embracing an uncertain future with the possibility of a return one day. Lilly, who captured hearts as Kate Austen in the beloved ABC drama series "Lost," reshared a video from 2006, revealing her long-held dream of becoming a "retired actress" within the next decade.
In the video, Lilly confessed, "Ten years from now, where would I like to be? I am terrified to admit this to the rest of the acting world, but ideally, 10 years from now, I'd like to be a retired actress and have a family." She expressed her desire to focus on writing and making a positive impact on people's lives in a humanitarian way.
Accompanying the video posted on June 3, 2024, Lilly wrote: "Today, my heart is overflowing with joy and contentment as I embark on this new chapter of my life. Praise God, I am deeply grateful for the blessings I have been given. While walking away from the obvious path of wealth and fame can be daunting at times, stepping into my true calling replaces fear with fulfillment. Although I may one day return to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, for now, this is where my heart belongs."
"A fresh season has dawned, and I AM READY…and I AM HAPPY," Lilly concluded, her words filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead.
Variety has reached out to Lilly's representatives for further comment, eager to hear more about this remarkable transformation in the actress's life.
Lilly's illustrious career spanned across multiple franchises, starring as Kate Bishop in all six seasons of "Lost," which captivated audiences from 2004 to 2010. Her exceptional performance garnered a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. Additionally, she made a lasting impression as Hope van Dyne/Wasp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, debuting in 2015's "Ant-Man" and reprising her role in subsequent films like "Ant-Man and the Wasp," "Avengers: Endgame," and the recent "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania." Lilly also showcased her talent in Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" trilogy, playing the valiant Tauriel in the latter two installments, "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" and "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies."
Last year, during an episode of the popular podcast "Happy Sad Confused," Lilly revealed an intriguing anecdote about her past. She candidly shared that she had once declined a golden opportunity to join the iconic "X-Men" franchise, courtesy of Hugh Jackman, as well as an offer to portray the iconic Wonder Woman from Joss Whedon.
The "X-Men" opportunity arose amidst the filming of the 2011 blockbuster "Reel Steel," which starred both Jackman and Lilly. At that juncture, Lilly had just wrapped up her iconic stint on "Lost," while Jackman had already established himself as a franchise staple with four "X-Men" films to his credit (along with a cameo appearance in "X-Men: First Class").
Lilly recounted how Jackman approached her, saying, "[Hugh] was like, 'Hey, so, the X-Men team has been asking me to see if I could talk to you. They know you're a bit of a recluse and don't like to mingle. But since we're working together, they were wondering if you'd ever be interested in joining the X-Men universe.'" However, Lilly's response was unequivocal: "I was like, 'No. It doesn't interest me. I'm not interested.'"
Separately, Whedon had previously extended an offer to Lilly to play Wonder Woman in a proposed film that ultimately failed to materialize. Lilly met with Whedon but admitted, "My impression after the meeting was that I simply had no desire to take up the role, and I think he sensed it too."
She elaborated, "The offer didn't resonate with me, and nothing about that meeting sparked any excitement or a sense of, 'Oh, I have to do this.' Nothing clicked. Nothing felt right." Lilly continued, "I'm probably too honest for my own good. If I'm not impressed, you'll know it. And sometimes, maybe it's better not to show everything."
Scroll down to read Lilly's candid post announcing her hiatus from Hollywood.
