Angelina Jolie 'Dissatisfied' With 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider' As Character Was Not 'Sexy Enough'
The "Tomb Raider" film series has seemingly cemented Angelina Jolie's place in the spotlight. However, she was not entirely happy with the film, with reports saying she might have even been "a bit disappointed."
Cheat Sheet recalled the actress herself spoke of the matter in her previous interviews. She told Black Film at the time that even the character was not "sexy and real enough" to her.
But, apart from these aspects, Jolie felt there were several reasons why "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" did not meet its full potential. Overall, she revealed she "was not satisfied with it."
Angelina Jolie, also, previously opened up about how she originally turned the role down. She explained her reasons to Collider, pointing out her hesitations about the character.
She initially believed that Lara Croft did not suit her, adding that she did not want to do it at first. But, she eventually accepted the role due to several factors, including traveling across the globe, as well as training with the British Military.
The "Eternals" actress shared that she would even "encourage anybody" to do it, considering all the perks. She said, "sign up for as much as you can, give yourself a few months, push yourself to the limit and see."
Some 17 years later, Entertainment Weekly revealed that the director of "Tomb Raider" fought for Angelina Jolie to be Lara Croft "over safer actresses." Simon West told the publication that, at the time, the actress was not "as big as some of the other actresses that were up for the part," arguing, however, that most of their images were "safer" than the Marvel star.
He reportedly "never saw anyone else" playing the role by Jolie due to her "wicked" persona behind the camera. She had a "great, dark reputation about her," and "lived quite an alternative lifestyle."
The film director continued that there were no issues with the actress's acting. The concern was said to have centered on her "likability to mainstream audiences," and this was what the studio questioned.
In the end, Simon West asserted that Angelina Jolie likely got interested in the film project as they were trying to establish Lara Croft as an "action-adventure role model for girls." Being a "role model" is what probably got her to do it, and doing the stint reportedly "played a part in laying the foundation" for the actress's numerous humanitarian endeavors in the years that followed.