There are various qualities to the character of Lara Croft that are fairly essential – intelligence, athleticism, dexterity, strength, agility, and charisma, with expertise in archaeology, history, linguistics, mythology, along with keen problem-solving and survival skills.
Former “Game of Thrones” star Sophie Turner takes on the role in the upcoming live-action “Tomb Raider” series for Amazon and has been training for much of last year to get into physical shape for the role.
Speaking with The LA Times while promoting the series “Steal,” she revealed that she has “never had to train for anything like this before,” even her role “X-Men,” and she “didn’t realise I could push my body that far”.
She says her take on the character is not the “sex bombshell” of the gams, rather what drew her to the role was showing off how capable Lara actually is:
“It’s about her and her story and what drives her, rather than what so many people also love about her, which is how hot she is in the games and the movies. But I really want to show the other side. She’s so unashamedly capable. She is not a woman who hides her strengths at all.”
She adds that a side benefit of her physical training is that she now feels much more comfortable walking around the streets of London with her kids, saying before she would “come up with scenarios in my head” where she would pick up her kids and run if an attacker cornered her. Now? “My instinct would be to deck him in the face.”
Joining Turner will be Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs, Martin Bobb-Semple, Bill Paterson, Jack Bannon, John Heffernan, Celia Imrie, Paterson Joseph, Sasha Luss, Juliette Motamed and August Wittgenstein.
British actress/writer and Emmy winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge created, wrote scripts, and executive produces the series. Chad Hodge is also on board as executive producer and co-showrunner.
The “Tomb Raider” series is expected to premiere on Amazon Prime Video sometime in 2027.
