Evangeline Lilly explains why she left Hollywood six years after officially quitting acting
Evangeline Lilly has opened up about her life outside of Hollywood, despite having made a name for herself on and off screen.
The 47-year-old revealed all in a conversation with the Christian Broadcasting Network published on 19 October, where she admitted to her thoughts on being a celebrity.
The actress, who played Kate Austen on Lost and Hope van Dyne, aka the Wasp, in Marvel’s Ant-Man franchise, told the outlet she officially retired from acting in 2020.
But she didn't reveal that to the media until two years ago.
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“It’s been six years now,” Lilly said.
At the time of her choice to leave, Lilly had been met with a couple of controversies surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, Lilly had posted online that she was going '#businessasusual' while dropping her kids off at gymnastics camp.
“They all washed their hands before going in. They are playing and laughing,” she wrote.
She then apologised for 'the insensitivity' before once again getting heat over the pandemic two years later when she attended an anti-vaccine mandate and then wrote online that she believes nobody should be 'forced to inject their body with anything, against their will.'
Now, she is enjoying a life without as much public insight, as she told the Christian outlet: “I’d much prefer a quieter position."
As for why she quit, she said: "I’ve always hated being famous. I never made any secrets about that. I’ve always said being famous is the cost of the wealth that you can get as an actor. Like that’s what you pay for — the wealth.”
But that doesn't mean her choice to leave was an easy one to make.
“When you’re successful at something, it feels really good when the world says, ‘We love you! You’re amazing!’ Like, this is a wonderful feeling,” she said. “How do you walk away from that? And I’ve had moments of … gripping fear of like, ‘What am I doing?’ But, ultimately, the decision was one that was made in great conviction.”
“When I was 26, I was saying … all the things I wanted in my life … and I did it … I’m there,” she said. “I’ve already retired. At that point, I’ve been retired for four years … it’s been a long time of adjusting.”
Lilly said she had no idea what the 'consequences' of her decision might be, but when she 'let go of so much … power, influence, and potential money' things became clear.
Now, she feels liberated and said she has stepped into a 'total trust and surrender that God has a plan for my life.'
She is also working on a new project, which will see her play Queen Bernice in Legend of Destruction, which is the retelling of the 'story of the Jewish revolt against Rome, which ended with the destruction of the Temple in the year 70.'
“This story was so intense and beautifully told, and then also incredibly timely because it’s talking about a society divided unto itself,” Lilly said. “So a society that’s really broken and in civil strife and how that leads ultimately to mutual destruction amongst all of its people.”
Britt Jones