Sophie Turner Plays Lara Croft: Every Live-Action Actress Before Her
Sophie Turner, best known for her breakout role as Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones, has officially been cast as the next live-action Lara Croft in Prime Video’s eagerly anticipated Tomb Raider TV series. This marks the first time the iconic video game heroine will be brought to life on the small screen. The series, created and written by Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge and set to begin production in January 2026, positions Turner at the center of a high-profile adaptation of one of gaming’s most recognizable characters. And she has big shoes to fill, as these actresses have played Croft in the past. Here are the other live-action actresses who’ve taken on the role.
Angelina Jolie played Lara Croft in ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’ and ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider — The Cradle of Life’
Angelina Jolie’s casting as Lara Croft in the early 2000s Tomb Raider films was a defining moment for her career. When Lara Croft: Tomb Raider debuted in 2001, it became one of the first commercially successful films based on a video game. The movie grossed approximately $274 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. This served as a notable achievement at a time when video game movies rarely found box office success.
The franchise continued with a sequel, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider — The Cradle of Life in 2003. The second film expanded on the globe-trotting adventures of Croft and featured Jolie returning to the role. The sequel didn’t match the first film’s box office haul, with around $160 million worldwide.
Film executive Sherry Lansing wrote about casting Jolie for the part in her biography, Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker.
“She definitely had some baggage and something of a dark reputation,” director Simon West said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Funnily enough, that was one of my selling points: This troubled and dangerous aspect in her reputation actually helped the character.”
West explained how Jolie offered to have the filmmakers drug test her if necessary. “She said: ‘Look, I want to do it, but I know what my reputation is, and I’ll do anything you want to prove that I’m worthy. I’ll be reliable, and I’ll turn up, and I’ll work hard,’” West noted. “She said, ‘I don’t care if the studio wants to drug test me every day.'”
Alicia Vikander took on the role in 2018 for the ‘Tomb Raider’ reboot
Alicia Vikander stepped into the role of Lara Croft for the 2018 Tomb Raider reboot, bringing a grounded, athletic energy to the iconic video game heroine. Directed by Roar Uthaug and inspired by the 2013 game reboot, the film focused on a younger, origin-story version of Croft, emphasizing her survival instincts and determination as she sets out to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance. While reviews were mixed, Vikander’s performance was widely praised.
Financially, Tomb Raider grossed approximately $274 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. The film had a production budget ranging from $90-106 million.
Vikander previously expressed her desire to participate in a sequel to the film. Unfortunately, the sequel never happened. Her co-star, Dominic West, also called the actress “deadly serious” about her acting.
“Alicia is quite badass,” West told Vogue in 2018. “And she’s deadly serious about the work. I was always trying to get her out to the pub, but she was very disciplined.”
Sophie Turner is set to play Lara Croft in the ‘Tomb Raider’ TV series
Sophie Turner, the British actress widely known for her breakout role as Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones, has officially been cast as Lara Croft in Amazon Prime Video’s new live-action Tomb Raider series.
“I’ve been a long-time fan of Tomb Raider and the character of Lara,” Turner stated, according to People. “She has always felt for me, very emboldened in a male-dominated world. She’s a fierce female role model!”
Turner’s take on Lara Croft is already drawing attention because of her deep preparation. She told SiriusXM about her extensive training in anticipation of the demanding, stunt-heavy performance. She also admitted that she’s never met Angelina Jolie, but that she’d love to. Turner hopes to create her own version of Croft without imitation.
“I’m playing the games, I’m reading the comics,” Turner explained. “I’ve got the colossal collections, which are, like, 500 pages. I’m kind of doing all of it, but not really focusing on the previous iterations, because I don’t want to imitate, you know? I’ve got to create my own thing. So, as much as I love those movies, I can’t watch them right now.”
