Evangeline Lilly

Evangeline Lilly
Born Nicole Evangeline Lilly
(1979-08-03) August 3, 1979
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada
Alma mater University of British Columbia
Occupation Actress, author
Years active 2002–present
Spouse(s) Murray Hone
(2003–04)
Partner(s) Dominic Monaghan
(2004–09)
Norman Kali
(2010–Present)
Children 2

Nicole Evangeline Lilly (born August 3, 1979)[1][2] is a Canadian actress and author. She won a Screen Actors Guild Award and received a Golden Globe nomination for her role as Kate Austen in the ABC series Lost (2004–10).[3] She is also known for her roles in films such as the psychological thriller Afterwards (2008), the war film The Hurt Locker (2008), and the sci-fi sports drama film Real Steel (2011). She played an Elf, Tauriel, in the fantasy adventure series The Hobbit[4][5] and Hope van Dyne in the superhero film Ant-Man.[6][7]

Early life

Lilly was born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, and raised in British Columbia by her mother and her father, a produce manager.[8][1][9] Her father was raised in Nigeria, as her paternal grandparents were missionaries in Africa (her paternal grandfather was a Baptist minister). Lilly has English and Irish ancestry; one of her grandmothers was an English war bride.[10]

Lilly graduated from W. J. Mouat Secondary School in Abbotsford, British Columbia, where she played soccer and was vice-president of the student council.[11] While in college, she worked as a waitress, did "oil changes and grease jobs on big rig trucks", and worked as a flight attendant for Royal Airlines to pay for her tuition.[11][12][13] She grew up Christian and her faith influenced her decision to take part in a three-week mission trip to the Philippines when she was 18.[12][14] Her interest in humanitarian causes and global development led her to major in International Relations at the University of British Columbia.[15]

Career

Television

Lilly at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival

Lilly's acting career began when she was discovered by a Ford Modeling Agency agent while walking the streets of Kelowna, British Columbia.[16] She took the agent's business card but did not immediately pursue acting. She eventually called and the agency landed her several roles in commercials and non-speaking parts in the TV shows Smallville and Kingdom Hospital.[15][17][18]

Lilly was encouraged to audition for Lost by a friend and she did not expect to get cast. As the secrecy campaign prevented the auditioning actors from accessing the full script, forcing them to read short scenes and only know the basic premise of people surviving a plane crash on a tropical island – which reminded Lilly of The Blue Lagoon – she thought Lost would "at best be a mediocre TV show".[19] Around 75 women auditioned for the part of Kate Austen. Writer and co-creator Damon Lindelof said that he and executive producer and co-creator J. J. Abrams "were fast-forwarding through a tape, and he saw her and said, 'That's the girl.'"[20][21] The character almost had to be recast, as Lilly had trouble acquiring a work visa to enter the United States.[22] Her application was finally accepted after nearly 20 tries and she arrived in Hawaii for filming one day late.[22]

Lost ran for six seasons from 2004 to 2010.[23] It was one of the top shows on ABC's primetime schedule during its run, won a Golden Globe and 11 Prime Time Emmy Awards including best drama in 2005, and was ranked the top-rated TV show of the decade by IMDb.[24] Lilly appeared in 108 of the show's 121 episodes, and her character, Kate Austen, was the show's female lead. Entertainment Weekly voted Lilly one of its "Breakout Stars of 2004."[25] In 2006, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Lead Actress-Drama.[26] Robert Bianco of USA Today praised Lilly's performance in the episode "Eggtown", saying that it was almost worthy of a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.[27] In 2007, Lilly's portrayal was voted #1 Sexiest Woman on Television by TV Guide and made FHM's Top Sexiest.[28] Evangeline was voted one of People Magazine's '50 Most Beautiful People'. After shooting the final episode of Lost, Lilly said she was considering taking a break from acting to focus on her charity and humanitarian efforts.[29] She told Vulture, "I consider acting a day job — it's not my dream; it's not my be-all, end-all."[30] She says she uses her high profile roles to further her humanitarian efforts, not to achieve stardom.[31]

Film

Lilly at 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2008

In 2008, Lilly starred in the Academy Award-winning film The Hurt Locker.[32] She and the rest of the cast won the Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast and the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble. Lilly followed this role with a leading part in psychological thriller film Afterwards.[33] In 2010, Lilly stated her intention to focus on children's book writing[34] and on feature film roles.[35][36]

On May 11, 2010, Lilly announced on The View that she places writing and being a mother as top priorities, but she likes acting as a day job and she will continue acting when possible.[37] In 2011, she appeared as Bailey Tallet in Real Steel.[38] Despite having turned down a number of film offers, she traveled to Los Angeles to get the part after director Shawn Levy sent her the script.[39] Levy said: "She's magnificent to look at, she's soulful, and she's sexy. I needed someone who you believed had grown up in a man's world. Bailey needed to have a strength and a toughness that was not at the expense of her being womanly."[40]

In 2012, Lilly was cast as the Mirkwood elf Tauriel in Peter Jackson's three-part adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.[5] The character, which does not appear in the original book by Tolkien, was created by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh as the head of the Elven guard who wields a bow and two daggers as weapons. Lilly, who had been a fan of Tolkien's books since she was 13,[41] underwent training for swordplay and archery, as well as in the Elvish language for the role.[41][42] In 2015, Lilly played Hope van Dyne in the superhero film Ant-Man.[6][7] In October of the same year, it was announced that Lilly would reprise her role in the sequel, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Marvel's first movie to feature a female hero in the title.[43]

Literature

In June 2010, Lilly announced on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson that she would be writing a children's book, reciting some of the story from the book to Ferguson on the show.[44]

On July 18, 2013, Lilly debuted the book, titled The Squickerwonkers. The release event was held at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con International, where she attended a book signing for the work in addition to providing a reading performance. Lilly has stated that the idea for the book first came to her when she was 14 years old. The foreword to the book was written by director Peter Jackson. She described the work as "a graphic book series designed for children", stating that the book is about a young girl who joins a group of characters she described as "this family, the Squickerwonkers, and they're strange outcasts who all have very particular vices".

Lilly has stated that future books will each reveal a new Squickerwonker character and unique vice, which will eventually become the undoing of the character.[45][46] The illustrator for the book is Johnny Fraser-Allen of Weta Workshop, a New Zealand-based concept design firm that worked films including The Hobbit. Lilly stated that the goal was to "make a book that we would like to have read as children and that we would still enjoy as adults today".[47]

Personal life

On December 20, 2006, an electrical problem set fire to her house in Kailua, Hawaii, destroying the house and all of her possessions while she was on the set of Lost.[48] Though she lost all of her belongings, she said that the fire "was almost liberating, I'm in no hurry to clutter up my life again".[49]

Lilly was married to Canadian Murray Hone from 2003 to 2004.[50] From 2004 to 2009, she dated her Lost co-star Dominic Monaghan.[51] She is now in a long term relationship with Norman Kali, a production assistant from Lost, and they make their home in Hawaii.[51][52][53] Lilly gave birth to their first child, a son named Kahekili (Hawaiian for "the thunder"), on May 21, 2011.[54] In June 2015, Lilly revealed that she and Kali were expecting their second child in November 2015;[55] she gave birth in October 2015, but the baby's gender was not given.

Lilly works with non-profits such as the GO Campaign.[29] In 2009, Lilly auctioned off custom lingerie in support of Task Brasil, "a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the lost street children of Brazil by providing them secure housing."[56] In 2010, she auctioned off three lunches in Vancouver, Honolulu, and Los Angeles to help widows and orphans in Rwanda, a country Lilly has made numerous trips to as part of her charity work.[57] In 2012 Lilly auctioned off a Hawaiian hike to raise money for the Sierra Club.[58]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Freddy vs. Jason School Student Uncredited[17]
2003 The Lizzie McGuire Movie Police Officer Uncredited
2003 Stealing Sinatra Model in Commercial
2004 White Chicks Party Guest Uncredited
2005 The Long Weekend Simone
2006 Just Yell Fire Herself
2009 Afterwards Claire
2009 The Hurt Locker Connie James
2011 Real Steel Bailey Tallet
2013 The NSA Video Narrator Documentary about NSA surveillance
2013 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Tauriel
2014 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2015 Ant-Man Hope van Dyne
2018 Ant-Man and the Wasp Hope van Dyne

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2001–03 Smallville Extra Uncredited[17]
4 episodes
2003–04 Tru Calling Extra(?) Uncredited[17]
2004 Kingdom Hospital Benton's Girlfriend Episode: "Heartless"
2004–10 Lost Kate Austen Main Cast (Season 1–6): 108 episodes
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2006, shared with the cast)
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (2007)
Nominated – National Television Award for Most Popular Actress
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress – Drama (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Breakout Performance – Female
Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Chemistry (shared with Matthew Fox and Josh Holloway)

Awards

Year Award Category Work Result
2010 Alliance of Women Film Journalists The Hurt Locker Won
Gotham Awards Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated
Denver Film Critics Society Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
2014 MTV Movie Awards MTV Movie Award for Best Fight The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Actress in an Action Movie Nominated
Empire Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Female Buttkicker Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated
2015 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Female Action Star The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 MacDonald, Gayle (September 11, 2005). "The blooming of Evangeline Lilly". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly (1271): 22. August 9, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Evangeline Lilly Profile". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ Itzkoff, Dave (June 20, 2011). "'Hobbit' Cast Adds Evangeline Lilly, Dame Edna and Sherlock Holmes". The New York Times. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Sieczkowski, Cavan (November 28, 2012). "Evangeline Lilly Debuts Dramatic Hair Makeover At 'Hobbit' Premiere (PHOTOS, POLL)". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Kit, Borys (January 23, 2014). "Evangeline Lilly in Talks to Join 'Ant-Man'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Sneider, Jeff (March 24, 2014). "‘House of Cards’ Alum Corey Stoll in Talks to Join Marvel's ‘Ant-Man’ (Exclusive)". thewrap.com. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Evangeline Lilly". Religion Facts.
  9. ↑ "TV Guide Profile". TV Guide.
  10. ↑ Lipworth, Elaine (December 7, 2013). "Evangeline Lilly: 'Elves, orcs, Orlando and me'". Daily Mail. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  11. 1 2 Heyman, Marshall (June 2009). "Evangeline Lilly Uncensored". Women's Health.
  12. 1 2 "Evangeline Lilly: 'I was a grease monkey'". Metro. July 1, 2008.
  13. ↑ "'Lost' star talks up movie at TIFF, recalls ill-fated stint as flight attendant". CP24. The Canadian Press. September 10, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  14. ↑ "A Spiritual Biography of Evangeline Lilly". ReligionFacts.com.
  15. 1 2 "About Evangeline Lilly". Yahoo. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Stars Discovered by Chance". Comcast.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Evangeline Lilly". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
  18. ↑ Bianco, Robert (October 12, 2004). "'Lost' finds ungilded Lilly". USA Today.
  19. ↑ Foley, Jack. "Lost: Season 2 interview - Evangeline Lilly (Kate)". Indie London. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  20. ↑ Keveney, Bill (January 4, 2005). "The many aliases of J.J. Abrams". USA Today.
  21. ↑ Woerner, Meredith (May 18, 2010). "Lost: The 14 Casting Tapes That Started It All". io9.com.
  22. 1 2 Before They Were Lost (Documentary). Lost: The Complete First Season: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
  23. ↑ Carter, Bill (January 30, 2008). "Tropical Teaser: 'Lost' Clues Decoded". The New York Times.
  24. ↑ Schillaci, Sophie (January 25, 2012). "Johnny Depp, 'The Dark Knight,' 'Lost' Named to IMDb's Top 10 of the Last Decade". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  25. ↑ Snierson, Dan (December 8, 2004). "Evangeline Lilly". Entertainment Weekly.
  26. ↑ The Hobbit Films, "Evangeline Lilly"
  27. ↑ Bianco, Robert (June 12, 2008). "Who Will Make Emmy Happy?". USA Today.
  28. ↑ "Survey Says Evangeline Lilly Is The Hottest Woman On TV". StarPulse.com. March 21, 2007. Archived from the original on September 7, 2014.
  29. 1 2 "'Lost' Star Evangeline Lilly May Quit Acting; Plans Charity Work In Rwanda". StarPulse.com. February 2, 2010. Archived from the original on February 5, 2010.
  30. ↑ Ryan, Mike (May 4, 2010). "Evangeline Lilly on the End of Lost and the One Scene She Would Rewrite". Vulture.
  31. ↑ Pasquella, Cynthia. "For Evangeline Lilly, Lost is a Means to Charitable Work- Not Stardom". cynthiapasquella.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Jeremy Renner and Evangeline Lilly in The Hurt Locker". FanPop.com.
  33. ↑ "John Malkovich, Evangeline Lilly and Romain Duris shooting Afterwards in Canada this summer - A Canada / France Co-production". Newswire.ca. April 13, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015.
  34. ↑ "'Lost's' Evangeline Lilly writing books". The Arizona Republic. June 4, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  35. ↑ Jimmy Kimmel Live! ABC. October 17, 2011
  36. ↑ "Evangeline Lilly Wants To Write Kids' Books: 'The Squickerwonkers' Is In The Works (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. June 3, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  37. ↑ Reiher, Andrea (May 11, 2010). "'Lost's' Evangeline Lilly on 'The View': She lost the Sawyer letter when her house burned down". Zap2It. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
  38. ↑ Alexander, Bryan (October 6, 2011). "Hugh Jackman's boxing is real deal in 'Real Steel'". USA Today. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Evangeline Lilly: 'Real Steel' gave me goosebumps and tears [video]". LA Times. October 5, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  40. ↑ Greenberger, Robert (January 25, 2012). "Real Steel Director Shawn Levy Enters the Ring". ComicMix.com. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  41. 1 2 "New interview with Evangeline Lilly (Tauriel)". Hobbit Movie News. September 19, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Evangeline Lilly Reveals Her Fears About Her ‘Hobbit’ Character". Access Hollywood. October 3, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Marvel Studios Phase 3 Update - News - Marvel.com".
  44. ↑ Markovitz, Adam (June 3, 2010). "PopWatch 'Lost' star Evangeline Lilly: Children's book author?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  45. ↑ Lazar, Shira (July 19, 2013). "Evangeline Lilly Reads From Children's Book "The Squickerwonkers" At Comic-Con 2013". The Huffington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  46. ↑ Pearson, Jennifer (July 18, 2013). "There's a kid in everyone! Evangeline Lilly gets playful in blue jumpsuit to plug her first children's book at Comic Con". Daily Mail (London). Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  47. ↑ Nessif, Bruna (July 18, 2013). "Evangeline Lilly Debuts Children's Book The Squickerwonkers at Comic-Con". E!. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  48. ↑ Dondoneau, Dave; Ritz, Mary Kaye (December 20, 2006). "Fire destroys home of 'Lost' actress Lilly". Honolulu Advertiser.
  49. ↑ "People Profile". People.
  50. ↑ "Lost beauty Evangeline Lilly stays mum on pregnancy rumours". News.com.au. April 16, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  51. 1 2 "It's her biggest plot twist yet: Lost's Evangeline Lilly is heavily pregnant with her first child". Daily Mail. April 16, 2011.
  52. ↑ Mail Online Reporter (December 29, 2014). "'I don't believe in forever promises!' Evangeline Lilly has no plans to marry long-term partner... as she reveals their struggle to adopt". Daily Mail. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  53. ↑ "It's Lost hours of sleep for Evangeline Lilly as she gives birth to a baby boy". Daily Mail. May 23, 2011.
  54. ↑ "Our First Look At Evangeline Lilly’s Son Kahekili Kali!".
  55. ↑ Zhao, Helen (June 30, 2015). "Surprise! Evangeline Lilly reveals she's expecting second child as she debuts blossoming baby bump at Ant-Man premiere". Daily Mail. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  56. ↑ McKay, Hollie (January 30, 2009). "Undies for Charity: Evangeline Lilly Launches Lingerie Line to Help Underprivileged Kids". Fox News Channel. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  57. ↑ "Evangeline Lilly Talks About Her Charity Auctions On EBay To Help Rwanda Video". OVGuide.com. January 25, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  58. ↑ "Celebrity experiences and donations raise money for The Sierra Club Foundation". Sierra Club.

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