Evangeline Lilly announces retirement from acting after 20-year career, claims she 'might return' one day

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Nicole Evangeline Lilly, a Canadian author who gained popularity for her leading role as Kate Austen in the ABC drama series 'Lost' has announced her retirement from acting.

In a recent Instagram post, Evangeline Lilly shared that she is ready to step away from the camera after a two-decade-long career in television and film as per DailyMail.

Evangeline Lilly announces her retirement on Instagram

On Tuesday, the 44-year-old Hollywood veteran announced her departure from show business on Instagram.

The brunette star who mentioned her 'Ant-Man' co-star Michael Douglas earlier this year, "'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 acting someday, but not at the moment: "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."

Her post also included a mash-up video created by fans.

The first clip showed her on the beach under a full moon on the set of 'Lost', where she expressed her desire to eventually retire, start a family, and become a humanitarian.

The next clip featured poet, Maya Angelou discussing the transient nature of life, taking it one experience at a time while awaiting the inevitable: death.

"I didn't come here to stay," Angelou said in the interview. "I didn't come to this earth to stay."

Lilly commented on the video, “'Thank you @lost_theothers for digging up this (nearly twenty-year-old) footage of me speaking out my dreams under (what looks like) a full moon,' remarked the thespian.

She continued, “And thank you to @femalepoetssociety for digging up this (much older) footage of the incredible #mayaangelou perfectly articulating how I feel about life.”

Evangeline Lilly expresses her desire for standalone Marvel movie

Lilly's partner since 2010 is Norman Kali, who works as a production assistant.

The couple welcomed their first son, Kehekili, in 2011 and a second child in 2015, whose name and gender they have not publicly revealed.

This news comes a year after Lilly expressed her desire for a standalone Marvel movie.

Reprising her role as Hope van Dyne/Wasp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe blockbuster Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Lilly mentioned her intention to advocate for a film centered on her character.

Speaking to Variety at the world premiere of the film in Los Angeles in February 2023, Evangeline said, "Well, I'm going to make a pitch that I think it might be time for Hope spin-off... for a Wasp standalone film. Do we agree? Anybody? Going once... going twice."

Lilly, who has been part of the MCU since the 2015 movie Ant-Man, now feels established within the superhero franchise. 

Evangeline remarked, "When we first came into the universe, it was so established with Black Widow, Iron Man, Captain America, and all the original gangsters. And we were just like these new kids on the block who were trying to earn our stripes"

She added, “And now all of a sudden we're in the centre at the launching point of Phase 5, and it feels really cool”

Lilly also revealed that she, “have a lot of opinions and I'd love to share them and I'd love to give you my thoughts on all of this"

"And to do it with confidence and to do it with clarity, instead of, before I even speak, already... brushing my own ideas under the carpet, which is an old habit of mine. Like, 'Yeah, this probably isn't a very good idea, but...' or, 'You don't have to use this, I'm just going to tell you what it is.'"

Internet asks Evangeline Lilly, ‘what goal do you have next?’

After reading about her retirement on Instagram, many internet users rushed to the comment section to share their perspectives.

One user said, "I feel extremely lucky. I got the opportunity to collaborate with you. I admire your honesty and your ability to follow your heart and soul. You’re truly one of a kind ❤️" Another wrote, "You've come so far what goal do you have next" 

The third user added, "we love you. this made me emotional, how beautiful to see you thrive in so many ways." The fourth user added, "you are inspiring. thank you for being here and sharing this. i love you and i'm proud of you forever and ever!"

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