Lara Croft’s Forgotten Voice: The Woman Behind the Icon

Years before the world associated Lara Croft with Angelina Jolie’s on-screen exploits or Sophie Turner’s much-anticipated television revival, the character’s first incarnation was neither on the big screen nor in a streaming series. In 1996, the original Tomb Raider game introduced players to Lara Croft, voiced by Shelley Blond. Her performance, though only heard and never seen, set the tone for everything that followed.

Blond, reflecting on her experience, recalled being given minimal direction. She was shown a single sketch of the character and told to channel a “young female Bond.” The brief was clear: keep it monotone, avoid overt emotion. For someone naturally expressive, this proved a challenge.

I was directed… and given one drawing of Lara… the same one I had for my taped audition. They told me they wanted her to sound like a young female Bond. Very monotonous without much emotion. That was hard for me as I am naturally very expressive.

Setting the Standard for Lara’s Voice

Blond’s distinctive delivery didn’t just define the character for gamers. When Angelina Jolie prepared for her own turn as Lara Croft, she reportedly listened to Blond’s voice repeatedly to master the accent. Jolie’s version of the character, with her unmistakably posh British inflection, owed more than a little to the groundwork laid by Blond.

Growing up in the fictional Croft manor, it’s only fitting that Lara would sound every bit the aristocrat. Blond herself admitted she hadn’t caught Alicia Vikander’s later portrayal, but she did see Jolie’s first outing as the adventurer.

She was the epitome of Lara in my eyes. Face, body, accent, attitude. She had it all.

The connection between the two performers ran deeper than most fans realised.

My friend who was in the film with her [Angelina Jolie] told me she let him know she had listened to my voice on the game over and over to get the sound right.

From Game to Film: Lara’s Cinematic Journey

Jolie’s portrayal in the 2001 film brought the character to a global audience, but the franchise’s cinematic run was relatively short-lived. Despite a star-studded cast and a sizeable box office return, the film’s critical reception was lukewarm at best. Lara’s presence in Hollywood faded, and for a time, the character seemed destined to remain a relic of the past.

Key facts about the 2001 film: Directed by Simon West, starring Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig, and Iain Glen, it premiered on 11 June 2001. The film earned $274 million worldwide, though it only managed a 21% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5.8/10 on IMDb. Paramount Pictures produced the film, which is currently available to stream on Kanopy.

A New Era: Sophie Turner Steps In

Interest in the franchise was reignited with Alicia Vikander’s take on the character, paving the way for Sophie Turner’s upcoming series. This new adaptation, set for release in 2026 or 2027, has already generated considerable buzz, not least because of the creative team behind it. Phoebe Waller-Bridge, known for her sharp writing and unique perspective, is both writing and producing the series.

The first glimpses of Turner’s Lara Croft have sparked nostalgia for the 1990s, with fans noting the return to the character’s roots. The move to a television format, rather than another film, may prove wise—recent successes like The Last of Us and Fallout have shown that games often translate better to episodic storytelling. Turner will be joined by a formidable cast, including Jason Isaacs, Sigourney Weaver, and Bill Paterson, promising a fresh take on the iconic adventurer.

With a new chapter on the horizon, the legacy of Lara Croft’s original voice remains a fascinating, often overlooked part of the character’s enduring appeal.