Alicia Vikander took home a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2016 for The Danish Girl. For her first major role since receiving the award, she’s playing Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. The upcoming film, out on March 15, will depict an origin story for the badass archaeologist, and that was one of the reasons Vikander found the role appealing–she told Nerdist’s Clarke Wolfe it was thrilling and exciting to have the opportunity to bring more depth to the character. But it’s not the only reason she wanted to portray Lara Croft, as Vikander explains:
She recalls playing the video game and how it was groundbreaking to see a female character take the lead in that world. And she’s right. Lara Croft stood out in a sea of male protagonists in games. The first Tomb Raider hit shelves in 1996, and in 2006, the Guinness Book of World Records named Lara Croft as the “Most Successful Videogame Heroine.”
Croft could still claim that title, as she’s been at the center of over ten games in the franchise, and of course, the previous Tomb Raider films. Vikander’s familiar with Angelina Jolie‘s time as the character, commenting on how she remembered the impact of Jolie as an action heroine.
Are you looking forward to seeing Vikander explore Lara Croft’s history? Will you be seeing Tomb Raider on March 15? Light a torch and make your way to the comments to let us know.
Images: Warner Bros.
More Tomb Raider!
- You can own a Lara Croft Barbie.
- A side-by-side comparison of the new movie and the game.
- An epic Tomb Raider tribute from Player Piano.
