The Film Angelina Jolie Says Was Not Sexy Enough for Her

Angelina Jolie has long been a powerhouse in the film industry, transitioning seamlessly from blockbuster action roles in Wanted and Mr. & Mrs. Smith to the director’s chair with films like First They Killed My Father.

While her versatility has earned her critical acclaim and an Academy Award, one of her most famous early roles left her feeling significantly less than satisfied. In the 2001 adaptation of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Jolie took on the mantle of the world’s most famous video game archaeologist, but she recently reflected on why the project felt hollow to her.

Despite the film’s commercial success, Jolie felt the character lacked the depth she craved in her roles. She admitted in an interview that she wasn’t satisfied with the portrayal, explaining that the production struggled to turn a digital character into a real person.

She felt that Lara Croft remained a video vixen rather than becoming a solid woman with emotions and feelings. For Jolie, the character’s hyper-sexualized image didn’t feel sexy and real enough, leading to a sense of frustration that they couldn’t adjust the story to feel more grounded.

Jolie wasn’t the only one on set who felt the production was a bit of a mess. Her co-star, Daniel Craig, was even more blunt about his experience, describing the film as the worst mistake of his career.

He recalled that the production lacked a clear direction, noting that you simply can’t start a film without a script. According to Craig, the writing was all over the f*****g place, and he struggled to make sense of a plot that involved strange elements like eight-foot f*****g green monkeys.

As of February, Jolie has moved far beyond the “video vixen” roles of her youth, focusing on deeply personal and artistically challenging projects. She is currently preparing for the wide release of her latest film Coutures, which is set to hit theaters on February 18.

Directed by Alice Winocour, the fashion-centric drama sees Jolie playing Maxine Walker, an American filmmaker whose life intersects with a model and a makeup artist during the chaos of Paris Fashion Week.

The actress is also coming off a wave of critical praise for her portrayal of opera legend Maria Callas in the biopic Maria, which dominated the 2025 awards season. Beyond acting, her sixth directorial effort, Without Blood, recently finished its international rollout.

Starring Salma Hayek and Demián Bichir, the war drama explores the long-lasting trauma of violence, a recurring theme in Jolie’s work as a filmmaker. Looking ahead, Jolie is set to return to the world of high-octane action with the film Sunny, where she will play a mother forced back into a life of crime to protect her children.

Do you think Angelina Jolie’s decision to move away from franchise characters like Lara Croft toward more complex, emotional biopics was the right move for her legacy? Share your thoughts in the comments.