Evangeline Lilly Net Worth

What Is Evangeline Lilly's Net Worth and Salary?

Evangeline Lilly is a Canadian actress who has a net worth of $5 million. Evangeline Lilly rose to international prominence in the mid-2000s with her breakout role as Kate Austen on the ABC drama "Lost," a series that became a cultural phenomenon and ran for six seasons. Lilly's performance as the conflicted and resilient Kate made her one of the show's central figures and earned her widespread recognition, including a Golden Globe nomination, while establishing her as a leading actress on television during the era of prestige network dramas.

Following "Lost," Lilly was selective with her acting work, stepping back from the industry for periods of time rather than immediately pursuing back-to-back high-profile roles. When she returned, it was often in projects with significant scale or personal appeal. She joined Peter Jackson's Middle-earth franchise, portraying the elf Tauriel in "The Hobbit" film trilogy, a character created specifically for the movies. The role introduced her to a global fantasy audience and expanded her presence in blockbuster cinema.

Lilly later became part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, debuting as Hope van Dyne in "Ant-Man." Over multiple films, her character evolved from a supporting figure into the superhero Wasp, making Lilly one of the first women in the MCU to receive co-title billing in "Ant-Man and the Wasp." Her work in the franchise further cemented her reputation as a dependable presence in long-running, effects-driven film series.

Outside of acting, Lilly has pursued writing, publishing a children's book series titled "The Squickerwonkers," which reflects her interest in storytelling beyond film and television.

Early Life

Evangeline Lilly was born Nicole Evangeline Lilly on August 3, 1979, in Fort Saskatchewan in Alberta, Canada, British Columbia. Her mother was a produce manager, and her father was a home economics teacher. Evangeline graduated from W. J. Mouat Secondary School in British Columbia, where she was the vice president of the student council and a popular soccer player. During her time at the University of British Columbia, where she studied International Relations, Lilly held down various jobs to pay for her education, including waiting tables, changing oil on big rig trucks, and working as a flight attendant for Royal Airlines.

Early Modeling and First Screen Appearances

Evangeline Lilly was discovered by a Ford Modelling agent in Kelowna, British Columbia, while she was still a university student. Although she initially took the agent's card and moved on, she eventually followed up, leading to representation that opened the door to her first professional work on camera. Through the agency, Lilly booked a series of commercials and small television roles, most of which were brief or non-speaking appearances that helped her gain on-set experience.

During this period, she appeared in multiple episodes of "Smallville," along with single-episode roles on "Tru Calling" and "Kingdom Hospital." While these early parts did not bring widespread attention, they placed her within the Vancouver-based television production scene and laid the groundwork for her transition from modeling into acting.

Breakthrough With "Lost"

Lilly's career changed dramatically when she landed the role of Kate Austen on the ABC drama "Lost." Encouraged by a friend to audition, she initially viewed the opportunity as a long shot. More than 70 actresses had auditioned for the role, but producers Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams later said they knew almost immediately that Lilly was their Kate after seeing her audition tape.

Her casting nearly fell apart due to immigration issues, as her U.S. work visa was rejected numerous times while production deadlines approached. With filming about to begin in Hawaii, the producers were forced to consider recasting the role. Lilly's visa was ultimately approved at the last possible moment, allowing her to fly to Hawaii and begin filming just one day late.

"Lost" premiered in 2004 and became one of the defining television series of the decade. Lilly appeared in 108 of the show's 121 episodes and became one of its central figures. Her performance earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2006, widespread media attention, and major pop culture recognition as the series went on to win a Golden Globe for Outstanding Drama Series and multiple Primetime Emmy Awards.

Post-"Lost" Films and Career Pause

After the conclusion of "Lost" in 2010, Lilly publicly expressed a desire to step back from acting rather than immediately pursue another long-running role. She appeared in the Academy Award-winning film "The Hurt Locker," which won Best Picture, and shared in the Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Cast. She followed this with roles in films such as "Afterwards," but remained selective about her projects.

For several years, Lilly turned down numerous acting opportunities, choosing instead to focus on personal priorities and creative pursuits outside of film and television.

Blockbusters and Franchise Roles

Lilly returned to mainstream cinema with a role in "Real Steel" before joining Peter Jackson's Middle-earth franchise as Tauriel in "The Hobbit" trilogy. The character was created specifically for the films, giving Lilly a prominent presence in one of the largest fantasy franchises of the era.

She later became a key part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, debuting as Hope van Dyne in "Ant-Man." Over subsequent films, her character evolved into the Wasp, making her one of the first female superheroes in the MCU to receive co-title billing in "Ant-Man and the Wasp." She reprised the role again in "Avengers: Endgame," further solidifying her place in one of the most successful film franchises in history.

Writing and Children's Books

Outside of acting, Lilly has developed a parallel career as an author. She created and wrote the children's book series "The Squickerwonkers," beginning with "The Squickerwonkers: The Prequel" in 2014. She later released three additional installments between 2018 and 2019, all published through her own Quiet Cocoon Productions.

Her writing work reflects a long-standing interest in storytelling beyond film and television and has remained an important creative outlet alongside her on-screen career.

Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Endorsements

In addition to acting in films and television, Evangeline has appeared in commercials for companies such as L'Oreal Paris, Karastan Carpets, Michelle K. Footwear, Davidoff Coolwater Women, and Baume et Mercier.

Personal Life

Evangeline was married to Murray Hone from 2003 to 2004. She dated her "Lost" co-star Dominic Monaghan from 2004 to 2007. Lilly began dating Norman Kali in 2010. They had their first child, a boy, in 2011, followed by another son in October 2015.

Real Estate

In December 2006, a house fire at Evangeline's rented home in Hawaii destroyed all of her possessions.

Controversy

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Lilly initially refused to self-quarantine or adhere to stay-at-home orders and started the hashtag "#businessasusual" on Instagram. She claimed to value "freedom" over her life, which garnered criticism from fans and fellow actors. In January 2022, Evangeline made an Instagram post that showed she took part in a protest against vaccine mandates in Washington, D.C. The protest was led by prominent anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Evangeline's post drew ire from her fellow Marvel co-stars Simu Liu and David Dastmalchian, prompting them to speak out publicly against her stances and actions.

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