Angelina Jolie, the undisputed queen of action and smoldering stares, once surprised fans with a confession that challenged their perception of her career choices. Believe it or not, there was a role she did but wished she hadn’t.
The reason couldn’t be more suitable for her personality. She simply regretted her role because it wasn’t sexy enough! Let’s take a look into the surprising story behind Jolie’s dissatisfaction with her portrayal of the iconic Lara Croft in ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.’
Angelina Jolie Has A Surprising Take On ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’
Initially hesitant about the role, Angelina Jolie was eventually swayed by the prospect of physical challenges and adventures when she signed up for ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider‘. However, upon filming, a sense of unease settled in. In an interview with Black Film, Jolie admitted, “I wasn’t satisfied with it.” She felt the focus on Lara Croft’s physical allure overshadowed the character’s potential for depth.
“We were trying to make the video game into a person, but still, it was the video game, and still, she was a video vixen, and she wasn’t quite a solid woman with emotions and feelings,” she added. Jolie believed this hyper-sexualized portrayal impacted the film’s reception.
She trained intensely, embodied the character’s physical prowess, and craved a portrayal that transcended looks. However, all that could not happen. “Even the way she looked wasn’t to me sexy and real enough,” she added. This wasn’t the empowered heroine Jolie envisioned. Jolie’s experience with Lara Croft is a cautionary tale for the action genre.
This realization seems to have impacted Jolie’s approach to future roles. Think of the steely determination of Evelyn Salt in ‘Salt’ or the fierce warrior queen Maya in ‘Maleficent’. These characters combined action with emotional depth, proving that women can be strong, sexy, and complex all at once.
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Daniel Craig Also Wasn’t Happy With His Character In ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’
Jolie wasn’t the only one with regrets. Even Lara Croft’s co-star, the future James Bond himself, Daniel Craig, revealed years later that the film was his “biggest mistake.” Craig, then a rising star, felt his role as Lara’s rival Alex West was underdeveloped and forgettable.
This double dose of disappointment from talented actors highlights the challenges of adapting video game characters for the big screen. Both Jolie and Craig craved characters with more substance, proving that even Hollywood stars can feel stuck in shallow roles
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