The Ant-Man and the Wasp star, 45, revealed in an Instagram post on Monday that she is “stepping away” from Hollywood for the time being.
Alongside her announcement, Lilly shared a throwback video from 2006, where she talked about her dreams for the future. Those dreams included becoming a “retired actress,” starting a family, and dedicating her time to humanitarian work.
“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 in her post.
“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. I might return to Hollywood one day, but, for now, this is where I belong.”
She wrapped up her heartfelt message with, “A new season has arrived, and I AM READY…and I AM HAPPY.”
View this post on Instagram
Lilly first gained widespread recognition on television, with early appearances on shows like Smallville. Her big break came when she landed the role of Kate Austen on the hit sci-fi series Lost. From there, her career took off.
She starred alongside Hugh Jackman in the 2011 mech-action movie Real Steel, and ventured into Middle Earth as the elf Tauriel in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013) and its 2014 sequel, The Battle of the Five Armies.
In 2015, Lilly joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Hope van Dyne, also known as the Wasp, in Ant-Man, directed by Peyton Reed. She reprised the role in 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp and took part in the epic battle against Thanos in Avengers: Endgame.
Her most recent appearance as the Wasp was in 2023’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which brought her back to the quantum realm for more action-packed adventures.
Throughout her career, Lilly has been known for her selective approach to roles, turning down projects that don’t align with her interests. One notable instance was when she declined a personal invitation from Hugh Jackman to join the X-Men universe.
Recalling the moment on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, she said, “I was like, ‘No. It doesn’t interest me. I’m not interested.’” She continued, “I was like, ‘I feel like such a dick because I’m talking to an X-Man! The X-Men! And I’m telling him, ‘No, that doesn’t appeal. Like, what?!’ I felt so rude!”
At that time, Lilly admitted she was “very critical” of superhero movies and initially planned to turn down Ant-Man as well. However, her agent persuaded her to watch some of the earlier Marvel films, and her perspective changed.
“When I did, I was like, ‘Oh, they’re doing something very different and very cool,’” she explained.
Now, as Lilly steps away from acting to focus on a new chapter of her life, she seems more content than ever, living out the dreams she once spoke of years ago. Whether or not she returns to Hollywood remains to be seen, but for now, she’s embracing her time away and following her own path.
