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The 5 Shocking Secrets Behind Angelina Jolie's Iconic Lara Croft: Why She Hated The Role

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Angelina Jolie’s portrayal of the iconic adventurer Lara Croft remains the gold standard for video game adaptations, even as the franchise prepares for a new cinematic future. In late 2025, with a new *Tomb Raider* series starring Sophie Turner in development and retrospectives of Jolie's work resurfacing, the legacy of her two films—*Lara Croft: Tomb Raider* (2001) and *The Cradle of Life* (2003)—is being re-examined through a modern lens. Her performance did more than just launch a successful film franchise; it cemented a defining image of the action heroine for a generation.

The films established Jolie as a global action star, perfectly capturing the aesthetic of the original PlayStation video game character. However, behind the scenes, the experience was far more complex and even contentious for the actress herself. The story of Angelina Jolie and Lara Croft is a tale of massive box office success, personal transformation, and a surprising internal conflict over the character's controversial portrayal.

Angelina Jolie: A Brief Biographical Profile

Angelina Jolie Voight is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian whose career is marked by critical acclaim and global stardom. Her role as Lara Croft remains one of her most recognizable, pivotal to her transition into a leading action star.

  • Full Name: Angelina Jolie Voight
  • Date of Birth: June 4, 1975
  • Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
  • Career Highlights: Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress (*Girl, Interrupted*, 1999), Golden Globe winner, BAFTA winner. Notable roles include *Maleficent*, *Salt*, *Mr. & Mrs. Smith*, and her directorial debut *In the Land of Blood and Honey*.
  • Humanitarian Work: Served as a Special Envoy for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), with a focus on humanitarian causes globally.
  • Key Lara Croft Films:
    • Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001):
      • Release Date: June 15, 2001
      • Box Office: $274.7 million worldwide (on a $115 million budget)
      • Key Cast: Daniel Craig (Alex West), Jon Voight (Lord Richard Croft), Iain Glen (Manfred Powell).
    • Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life (2003):
      • Release Date: July 25, 2003
      • Box Office: $156.5 million worldwide (on a $95 million budget)
      • Key Cast: Gerard Butler (Terry Sheridan), Ciarán Hinds (Jonathan Reiss).

1. The Shocking Reason Jolie Initially Hated Lara Croft's Portrayal

One of the most surprising revelations about the making of the first *Tomb Raider* film is Angelina Jolie’s profound dissatisfaction with the character's initial script and depiction.

Jolie, a serious actress who had just won an Academy Award, was highly critical of the overly sexualized nature of the video game icon.

She reportedly "hated filming the first *Tomb Raider* movie" because she felt the script portrayed Lara Croft as "nothing more" than a figure designed for sex appeal, lacking the depth she knew the character deserved.

This internal conflict led her to push for significant rewrites to inject more of Lara's intelligence, emotional complexity, and adventurous spirit, moving her beyond the simple "sexy" label that plagued early video game adaptations. Her insistence on a stronger, more complex action heroine ultimately contributed to the film's success and the character's lasting appeal.

2. The Role That Changed Her Life and Led to Humanitarian Work

While the first film presented creative challenges, it was also the catalyst for one of the most significant shifts in Angelina Jolie's personal life: her commitment to humanitarian work.

The production of *Lara Croft: Tomb Raider* required extensive filming in Cambodia, specifically at the historic Ta Prohm temple in Angkor.

During her time in the country, Jolie witnessed the devastating effects of poverty and the refugee crisis firsthand.

This experience was so impactful that she fell in love with the country and its people, ultimately leading her to adopt her first child, Maddox, from Cambodia.

The role of Lara Croft, the adventurer who travels the world, ironically opened Jolie's eyes to global issues, transforming her from a Hollywood rebel into a dedicated Special Envoy for the UNHCR.

3. The Stuntwoman Who Became Her Closest Friend

To embody the physically demanding role of the globe-trotting archaeologist, Jolie underwent an intense training regimen, performing nearly all of her own stunts.

This commitment to authenticity led to a deep and lasting bond with her main stunt double, Eunice Huthart.

Huthart, a former competitive gymnast, was instrumental in shaping the on-screen action, and the two became close friends. Their professional partnership and personal friendship extended well beyond the *Tomb Raider* films, highlighting the rigorous and collaborative environment on set.

This dedication to the action sequences, combined with her preparation in various martial arts and weapons training, is what gave Jolie's Lara Croft the credibility and physical prowess that fans adored.

4. The Father-Daughter Dynamic That Was Real (And Tense)

In a rare instance of real-life family drama spilling onto the screen, Angelina Jolie’s father, the acclaimed actor Jon Voight, was cast in the film as Lord Richard Croft, Lara's deceased father.

While the on-screen relationship was one of loving memory and mystery, the off-screen relationship between Jolie and Voight was notoriously strained at the time of filming.

Despite their personal difficulties, their shared scenes—mostly flashbacks and voiceovers—added an unexpected layer of emotional weight to the story of Lara's quest to honor her family's legacy and the secret society of the Illuminati.

This unique casting choice created a fascinating subtext that is often missed by casual viewers, making the *Tomb Raider* films a subtle chapter in their complicated family history.

5. Why Her Legacy Dominates the New Tomb Raider Era

Even with the 2018 reboot starring Alicia Vikander and the current development of a new series with Sophie Turner, Angelina Jolie’s interpretation remains the most iconic and culturally significant video game adaptation of the 21st century.

Her films, particularly the first, proved that a female-led action movie based on a video game could be a massive box office success, paving the way for future action heroines.

The critical and commercial failure of the sequel, *The Cradle of Life*, is often attributed to a weak script, not Jolie's performance, which remained a standout.

Today, as the franchise pivots toward new games and a new Amazon Prime Video series, critics and fans consistently look back at Jolie's work as the benchmark.

Her powerful, physically committed portrayal of the aristocratic archaeologist, grappling with relics like Pandora's Box and navigating ancient temples, defined the character for a generation. The ongoing conversation about the new adaptations ensures that the legacy of Angelina Jolie's Lara Croft—a complex figure who was both a sexualized fantasy and a groundbreaking action star—will continue to be debated and celebrated.

lara croft angelina jolie
lara croft angelina jolie

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