The Role Angelina Jolie Hates: Why Lara Croft Still Haunts Her

Angelina Jolie, a celebrated actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian, has enjoyed a storied career with iconic roles in films such as Girl, Interrupted (1999), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), and Changeling (2008). However, not every film in her extensive repertoire has been met with the same level of satisfaction. Over the years, Jolie has been open about her feelings of regret regarding certain projects, and one film in particular stands out as a source of dissatisfaction: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001).

The Role That Jolie Regrets

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, directed by Simon West, was a major commercial success, grossing over $275 million worldwide. Based on the popular video game franchise, the film featured Jolie in the titular role of Lara Croft, a tough, adventurous archaeologist. The movie’s success helped establish Jolie as an international action star, but in subsequent years, she has publicly expressed regret about her portrayal of the character and her experience with the film.

In various interviews, Jolie has explained that she was not fully satisfied with the final product, specifically regarding the character of Lara Croft. She explained, “I wasn’t satisfied with it. Through the making of that film, we were all still trying to figure out how things worked, and we were trying to make the video game into a person, but still, it was the video game.” Jolie’s dissatisfaction seems to stem from the difficulty of adapting a video game character into a more complex and relatable person for the screen, feeling that the film ultimately didn’t achieve the depth she had hoped for in portraying Lara.

Initial Hesitation and Unmet Expectations

Interestingly, Jolie initially declined the role of Lara Croft, expressing doubts about whether the character suited her. “I really didn’t feel like that character suited me,” she remarked in an interview. However, she later accepted the part, citing the opportunity to travel and the chance to undergo physical training with the British military as key factors in her decision. Despite the film’s success and her intense preparation for the role, it appears that Jolie’s expectations for how the character would evolve fell short during the production process, leading to her feelings of regret.

A Common Regret Among Co-Stars

Jolie was not the only one dissatisfied with Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Her co-star, Daniel Craig, who played the character of Alex West, also expressed regret about his involvement. In a 2017 interview, Craig called the film “the worst mistake I’ve made,” citing issues with the script. This aligns with Jolie’s feelings, suggesting that the production process itself may have been challenging and contributed to their collective dissatisfaction.

While Craig’s regrets were rooted in script problems, Jolie’s discontent seemed to focus more on the characterization of Lara Croft and the overall direction of the film. The shared discontent between the two actors further highlights the difficulties that arose during the making of the film.

Comparing Tomb Raider to Other Projects

Although Jolie has received criticism for other films, such as Original Sin (2001) and Taking Lives (2004), and even garnered Razzie nominations for Worst Actress for both, there are no direct statements from her indicating regret for these roles. For instance, Original Sin was another film that received poor reviews and led to a Razzie nomination, but Jolie has not publicly discussed any specific feelings of regret about the film. This reinforces the idea that Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is the film that stands out as a source of significant dissatisfaction in her career.

Conclusion: A Role That Will Always Be a Regret

Based on Angelina Jolie’s own reflections, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) remains the movie she will always regret. Despite its success at the box office and its role in establishing her as an action star, the film did not meet her personal expectations for the portrayal of Lara Croft. Jolie’s regret stems from her initial hesitations about the role, the challenges of adapting a video game character, and the unmet expectations during production. Combined with similar sentiments from her co-star, Daniel Craig, it’s clear that Tomb Raider stands as one of the few movies in Jolie’s illustrious career that she feels less than satisfied with.