Evangeline Lilly walked away from acting in 2020, but giving up the money, influence and validation that came with her career still frightened her. She waited until 2024 to publicly announce her retirement.
The 47-year-old Lost and Ant-Man star described the pull of being celebrated: “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.” Leaving that behind brought moments of fear, even though she said her decision was “one that was made in great conviction.”
Fame had long been the part of the job she disliked. “I’d much prefer a quieter position. I’ve always hated being famous. I never made any secrets about that,” Lilly said.
She described fame as the price actors pay for the wealth they can earn, and said adjusting to retirement had taken years.
Her ambitions before acting included becoming a missionary, humanitarian or diplomat. She studied political science and international relations, and said she wanted to help people directly: “I’ve always wanted a much more hands-on impact. I’ve done 22 years of hands-on humanitarian work in Rwanda.”
Storytelling remains part of what she wants to do. “I love telling stories, but I’d like to tell stories of my own instead of being in front of the camera,” she said.