“I’ll never wear them again”: Angelina Jolie Is Glad She Didn’t Turn Down ‘Tomb Raider’ That Changed Her Life Completely After Brad Pitt Divorce

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie reflected on how starring in Tomb Raider was a life-changing experience and revealed that she almost turned down the role.

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has revealed that she almost turned down the 2001 action-adventure film, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider before it ultimately became a life-changing experience for her.

Known for her incredible on-screen performances, most recently in the Oscar-nominated film Maria, Jolie embodied the titular role in the 2001 film and its 2003 sequel.

Angelina Jolie | Credit: Harald Krichel/CC-BY-SA-4.0/Wikimedia Commons.
Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the films performed reasonably well at the box office.

Jolie has now shared that she is glad that she did not turn down the film which has been an unforgettable and transformative experience of her life.

Angelina Jolie revealed she nearly turned down Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie took on the titular role in the 2001 film, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

Based on the Tomb Raider video game series, the film follows her character’s adventures in search of an artifact with the power to control time.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider | Credit: Paramount Pictures.

Talking about the movie in a recent interview, the actress revealed that she initially turned down the film.

“I said no to Tomb Raider when I was first called,” she told People at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

The Maria star also shared that she eventually changed her mind after learning about the exciting experiences that came with the role.

“They said, ‘You can travel the world and train with the British military,’” Jolie recalled.

However, she had one condition.

While Lara Croft is known for her signature short shorts in video games, Jolie was reluctant to wear them throughout the entire film.

Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life | Credit: Paramount Pictures.

She further shared,

And I said, ‘I will wear the shorts for the first five minutes and then I’ll never wear them again.’ And that’s true.

And that’s the movie.

That’s actually what happened.

After starring in the 2001 film, Jolie reprised her role in the sequel, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life.

While the franchise contributed to her already illustrious career and brought her significant praise, she has also shared that it provided her with a life-changing experience.

Angelina Jolie expressed how Lara Croft: Tomb Raider has been a life-changing experience

Talking about her experience starring in the movie, Angelina Jolie also shared that she is glad that she did not turn down the role in the 2001 action-adventure movie, emphasizing what a profound experience it has been for her.

Jolie reflected on how certain decisions, including the ones she almost didn’t make, significantly shaped her life, both personally and professionally.

She acknowledged that had she turned down the role, she would have missed out on life-changing experiences.

Angelina Jolie | Credit: Gage Skidmore/CC-BY-SA-3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

She said,

I learned something about life.

I think about my life and the amount of things I almost didn’t do, almost missed, that would’ve changed the course of my life.

The film introduced her to Cambodia, a country that became a second home, led to her deep involvement in humanitarian work, and even played a role in the adoption of her first son, Maddox Jolie-Pitt.

“In my heart, Cambodia,” she told People when asked where she considers home before adding, “My first trip was Tomb Raider, where you saw me hanging upside down [in the clip].”.

Despite often making headlines due to her highly publicized marriage and divorce from Brad Pitt, Jolie has since leaned into the strength and resilience she has built over the years.

She continues to focus on her children, humanitarian work, and personal growth.

Her decision to accept Tomb Raider turned out to be more than just a career move, as it became the catalyst for the life she built, ultimately helping her navigate the challenges of her post-divorce journey.

Angelina Jolie’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider movies are available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.