(NEXSTAR) – Evangeline Lilly, known for her roles in “Ant-Man” film franchise and the ABC series “Lost,” appeared to announce her retirement from acting in a message shared to social media this week.
“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,” Lilly, 44, wrote on Instagram.
In her post, Lilly included a video of herself from 2006 in which she shares her dreams for the future.
“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,” Lilly, now 44, said back in 2006.
In the nearly 20-year-old video, Lilly added that she’d like to have a family, continue writing, and start “influencing peoples’ lives in a more humanitarian way.”
Lilly also included a video segment from an interview with Maya Angelou, in which Angelou discussed how all people are “in process,” and how she remains open and accepting of change. Lilly said Angelou’s comments “perfectly” captured her own feelings.
“I am so filled with joy and contentment today as I live out my vision. Praise God, I feel so grateful for my blessings,” Lilly wrote.
She later added a caveat, writing that she “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,” Lilly concluded her post.
Lilly, originally from Alberta, Canada, rose to fame with a starring role on the hit ABC show “Lost,” playing Kate Austen on all six seasons of the series. Her credits also include roles in “The Hurt Locker,” “Real Steel,” Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” film franchise and all three of Marvel’s “Ant-Man” films as well as “Avengers: Endgame.” She still has one “upcoming” credit on IMDb for a project called “Happy Life,” which is listed as being in pre-production.
Lilly has also authored a series of children’s books (“The Squickerwonkers”) and has remained involved in humanitarian work in Rwanda for over a decade.
