Evangeline Lilly says she's on an 'indefinite hiatus' from Hollywood: 'Living my dreams'

Evangeline Lilly has determined she doesn't have to go back (to Hollywood) after all.

The "Lost" and "Ant-Man" actor, 44, has revealed she's stepping away from acting. She shared the news on Instagram, posting an old video of herself on the set of "Lost" reflecting on where she wants to be in 10 years.

"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 says in the resurfaced video from 2006, adding that she would like to be "influencing people's lives in a more humanitarian way."

Nearly 20 years later, Lilly suggested in her Instagram post that she has realized this goal, writing that she is "filled with joy" as she lives out "my vision."

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"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 wrote. "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."

In an Instagram comment, Lilly also wrote that she is on an "indefinite hiatus," "living my dreams and being fully in my joy."

'Ant-Man and the Wasp' review: Why Marvel's 'Quantumania' veers off track

Lilly rose to fame starring as Kate Austen on ABC's "Lost" for six seasons and has more recently played Hope van Dyne, a.k.a The Wasp, opposite Paul Rudd's Ant-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She starred in all three "Ant-Man" movies, including 2023's "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," and also appeared in 2019's "Avengers: Endgame."

According to IMDB, "Lilly, "Quantumania" was Lilly's most recent project.

Lilly's Hope van Dyne was still alive when Marvel fans last saw her, leaving it unclear what her decision means for the future of her character in the MCU. Lilly also starred as Tauriel in Peter Jackson's "Hobbit" trilogy. The actress, who in the old footage said she hoped to have a family in 10 years, shares two children with Norman Kali.

"Lost" will celebrate its 20th anniversary in September and will begin streaming on Netflix in July.

In recent years, Lilly also stirred up controversy for her stance on COVID-19 quarantining and vaccines. In 2020, she experienced backlash on social media for describing the novel coronavirus as a "respiratory flu" and speculating that orders to stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus were a political ploy.

"I have two young kids. Some people value their lives over freedom, some people value freedom over their lives. We all make our choices," she wrote in an Instagram comment in March 2020.

In 2022, she revealed her stance against COVID-19 vaccine mandates, sharing on social media that she'd attended a protest "to support bodily sovereignty" in Washington, D.C.

Contributing: KiMi Robinson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Evangeline Lilly steps away from acting, announces 'indefinite hiatus'