Angelina Jolie<\/a> famously played her on the big screen in 2001 and 2003, and now Sophie Turner<\/a> will be the next to bring the titular “Tomb Raider” to life on the screen.<\/p>\n The adventurous archaeologist travels the globe looking for missing artifacts and historical treasures. She was first introduced nearly 30 years ago, in 1996’s Tomb Raider video game, which had users play as Lara as she searched for a powerful relic known as the Scion of Atlantis.<\/p>\n In the years since the character’s debut, there have been multiple Tomb Raider video games, along with movies and an animated series. Jolie portrayed the heroine on the big screen in 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and other actresses have brought her to life as well, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier star Hayley Atwell<\/a>.<\/p>\n In an October 2024 Radio Times<\/a> interview, when asked why she thinks Lara Croft continues to endure, Atwell said, “She’s unique in that she’s an action adventurer who [creates] myth-fuelled stories.”<\/p>\n “So it’s combining elements of archeology and history and ancient cultures, and that makes her timeless,” she added.<\/p>\n As a new Tomb Raider adaptation is set to begin production, here is a look at who has played Lara Croft in movies and TV.<\/p>\n Angelina Jolie Alex Bailey\/Paramount\/Kobal\/Shutterstock <\/p>\n Angelina Jolie in ‘Tomb Raider – The Cradle Of Life’ (2003)<\/p>\n Angelina Jolie played the intrepid archaeologist twice, in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, which premiered in June 2001, and its sequel, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider \u2013 The Cradle of Life, released in July 2003.<\/p>\n In February 2025, the Oscar-winning actress revealed to PEOPLE that she initially turned down the role when first approached about it, but she eventually changed her mind.<\/p>\n “They said, \u2018You can travel the world and train with the British military.\u2019 And I said, \u2018I will wear the shorts<\/a> for the first five minutes and then I’ll never wear them again,’ ” Jolie recalled. “And that’s true. And that’s the movie. That’s actually what happened.”<\/p>\n Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was a life-changing role for the actress for multiple reasons. The movie was filmed in Cambodia, and Jolie fell in love with the location. She later returned to the Southeast Asian country to adopt her first child, son Maddox<\/a>.<\/p>\n Alicia Vikander Warner Bros\/Kobal\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Alicia Vikander in ‘Tomb Raider’ (2018)<\/p>\n Alicia Vikander<\/a> portrayed Lara Croft in the reboot movie Tomb Raider, released in June 2018.<\/p>\n In the film, Lara searches for ancient artifacts and her missing father, Richard Croft, played by Dominic West<\/a>.<\/p>\n The following year after the reboot was released, a sequel was put in development with Vikander set to return, but MGM lost the rights, and the actress was “no longer attached” to the project by 2022, according to Deadline<\/a>.<\/p>\n In a September 2024 interview with The Independent<\/a>, Vikander said she was “sad” about not returning to play Lara again, adding that \u201cof course\u201d she would have come back.<\/p>\n “I had so much fun,” she added.<\/p>\n Hayley Atwell NETFLIX; Pascal Le Segretain\/Getty<\/p>\n ‘Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’ ; Hayley Atwell on September 28, 2023 in Paris, France<\/p>\n Hayley Atwell voiced the adventurer in the 2024 Netflix animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.<\/p>\n According to the series description, the animated adventures of Lara have her going up against a “superpowered mercenary and an ancient cult.”<\/p>\n While speaking to Radio Times in October 2024, Atwell explained why she took on the iconic role, saying, “Even if people are not that familiar with the games, or have seen one movie or another movie, she’s a very known, beloved figure.”<\/p>\n “She’s been with us for decades now, and I’ve always loved the fact that the writers were women,” Atwell continued, referring to various script writers for the Tomb Raider games.<\/p>\n In October 2024, Netflix<\/a> confirmed that Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft had been renewed for a second season. Shortly after, Variety<\/a> reported that Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft will end with season 2 after it premieres on Dec. 11.<\/p>\n Sophie Turner Pascal Le Segretain\/Getty<\/p>\n Sophie Turner attends the Louis Vuitton Womenswear Fall\/Winter 2025-2026 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 10, 2025 in Paris, France<\/p>\n In November 2024, it was announced that Game of Thrones<\/a> star Sophie Turner was cast as Lara Croft in the upcoming Prime Video live-action Tomb Raider series from Phoebe Waller-Bridge<\/a>.<\/p>\n “I am thrilled beyond measure, to be playing Lara Croft,” Turner said in a statement, per Variety<\/a>. \u201cShe\u2019s such an iconic character, who means so much to so many \u2014 and I am giving everything I\u2019ve got.”<\/p>\n “They\u2019re massive shoes to fill, following in the steps of Angelina and Alicia with their powerhouse performances,” she continued. “But with Phoebe at the helm, we (and Lara) are all in very safe hands.”<\/p>\n “I can\u2019t wait for you all to see what we have cooking,” Turner added.<\/p>\n Production on the new series is set to kick off in January 2026 \u2014 almost 30 years after Lara Croft’s video game debut.<\/p>\n![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/130e0d62d13c2ba6b77b5d086399badf.jpeg\"\/)
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