The New Era Of Lara Croft: Meet The Actors In The Latest Tomb Raider Live-Action Series And Video Games

The iconic adventurer Lara Croft is undergoing her latest, most anticipated transformation, with a new generation of actors stepping into the dual-pistol-wielding boots for both live-action and animated projects. As of late 2024, the torch has officially been passed to a *Game of Thrones* veteran for the next major live-action adaptation, signaling a fresh, dark, and potentially more grounded take on the beloved archaeologist's saga. This article explores the full lineage of actors who have brought the legendary Tomb Raider to life across film, television, and video games, focusing on the latest and most significant casting decisions. The franchise's journey is a fascinating study in Hollywood reinvention, moving from blockbuster film star Angelina Jolie to the Oscar-winning performance of Alicia Vikander, and now to the highly-anticipated Amazon Prime Video series starring Sophie Turner. The continuous evolution of the character demands a look back at the cinematic and vocal talents that have defined the *Tomb Raider* universe for over two decades, from the classic PlayStation days to the modern reboot trilogy.

The Newest Faces of Lara Croft: Sophie Turner and Hayley Atwell

The most current and exciting news in the *Tomb Raider* universe centers on two major projects that are expanding the franchise's presence across streaming platforms in 2024 and beyond.

Sophie Turner: The Live-Action Lara Croft

The role of Lara Croft in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video live-action series has been officially handed to English actress Sophie Turner. Turner is most famous for her breakout role as Sansa Stark in the critically acclaimed HBO series *Game of Thrones* and as Jean Grey in the *X-Men* film franchise. * Birth Name: Sophie Belinda Turner * Born: February 21, 1996, in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England * Key Roles: Sansa Stark (*Game of Thrones*), Jean Grey (*X-Men* films) * New Role: Lara Croft in the Prime Video *Tomb Raider* series * Series Details: The series was greenlit in 2024 and is being created and written by the Emmy-winning star of *Fleabag*, Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The live-action series is also making headlines with the addition of Hollywood legend Sigourney Weaver in a major role. Weaver, widely celebrated for her portrayals of strong, independent characters like Ellen Ripley in the *Alien* franchise and her recent work in the *Avatar* films, brings significant star power and gravitas to the new series.

Hayley Atwell: The Animated Lara Croft

Adding to the new wave of *Tomb Raider* content is the Netflix animated series, *Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft*. For this project, the voice of the iconic adventurer will be provided by actress Hayley Atwell. * Key Roles: Peggy Carter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), including *Captain America: The First Avenger* and *Agent Carter*. * Project: *Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft* (Netflix) * Context: This animated series is set to continue the storyline of the highly successful video game reboot trilogy, following the events of *Shadow of the Tomb Raider*.

The Cinematic Icons: From Angelina Jolie to Alicia Vikander

The character of Lara Croft has been a staple of cinema since the early 2000s, with two different actresses defining the role in major Hollywood blockbusters.

Angelina Jolie: The Original Live-Action Tomb Raider

Angelina Jolie was the first actress to bring the video game character to the big screen, embodying the classic, confident, and aristocratic version of Lara Croft. Her portrayal cemented the character's global recognition outside of the gaming community. * Film 1: *Lara Croft: Tomb Raider* (2001) * Film 2: *Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life* (2003) * Key Supporting Actors (2001): * Jon Voight as Lord Richard Croft (Lara's father) * Daniel Craig as Alex West (Rival archaeologist/love interest) * Iain Glen as Manfred Powell (The primary antagonist) * Noah Taylor as Bryce (Lara's technical assistant)

Alicia Vikander: The Gritty Reboot Archeologist

In 2018, the franchise was rebooted with a film that closely followed the narrative and tone of the 2013 video game reboot. Swedish actress and Oscar winner Alicia Vikander took on the role, presenting a younger, less experienced, and more physically vulnerable Lara. * Film: *Tomb Raider* (2018) * Context: The film focused on Lara's origin story, her search for her missing father, and her first deadly adventure on the lost island of Yamatai. * Key Supporting Actors (2018): * Dominic West as Lord Richard Croft (Lara’s father) * Walton Goggins as Mathias Vogel (The antagonist and rival archaeologist) * Daniel Wu as Lu Ren (Ship captain and ally) * Kristin Scott Thomas as Ana Miller (Business partner of Richard Croft)

The Vocal Talents: The Voice Actors Who Defined Lara Croft

Any discussion of *Tomb Raider* actors must include the pivotal voice performers who brought the character to life for millions of players across multiple console generations. These voice actors are the true foundation of the character's personality and legacy.

The Classic and Legend Eras

The early video games established Lara Croft's sophisticated, British-accented persona through a series of distinct voice actresses: * Shelley Blond: She was the very first voice of Lara Croft in the original 1996 title, *Tomb Raider*. * Judith Gibbins: She voiced Lara in the sequels *Tomb Raider II* and *Tomb Raider III*, lending a more refined, no-nonsense tone to the adventurer. * Jonell Elliott: She took over for the later classic titles, including *The Last Revelation*, *Chronicles*, and *The Angel of Darkness*. * Keeley Hawes: The longest-serving voice actress for the character, Hawes voiced Lara through the "Legend" trilogy: *Tomb Raider: Legend*, *Tomb Raider: Anniversary*, and *Tomb Raider: Underworld*.

The Modern Reboot Trilogy

When the video game franchise was rebooted in 2013 with a grittier origin story, a new voice actor was selected to capture a younger, more emotional Lara Croft. * Camilla Luddington: Luddington voiced and provided motion capture for Lara Croft in the entire critically acclaimed reboot trilogy: *Tomb Raider* (2013), *Rise of the Tomb Raider* (2015), and *Shadow of the Tomb Raider* (2018). Her performance is widely credited with defining the modern version of the character, focusing on her survivalist skills and emotional journey from an inexperienced survivor to the legendary Tomb Raider. The constant reinvention of Lara Croft, whether on the big screen, a television series, or through a video game controller, highlights the enduring appeal of the character. From the established action heroics of Angelina Jolie to the survivalist grit of Alicia Vikander, and now to the fresh take promised by Sophie Turner, the legacy of the actors in *Tomb Raider* continues to evolve with each new project. The involvement of major talents like Sigourney Weaver and the creative vision of Phoebe Waller-Bridge ensure that the Prime Video series will be a landmark event for fans of the franchise and a major chapter in the history of the legendary adventurer.