Angelina Jolie, the acclaimed actress and humanitarian, recently revealed the profound impact of the movie Tomb Raider on her life, specifically how it led her to call Cambodia home. During a conversation at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where she received the Maltin Modern Master Award, Jolie shared that Cambodia holds a special place in her heart.
The 2001 action-adventure film, based on the popular video game, served as Jolie’s introduction to the Southeast Asian country. Reflecting on her career, Jolie admitted she almost didn’t take the role of Lara Croft. She initially declined the offer but was eventually persuaded by the opportunity to travel the world and train with the British military. “I said no to Tomb Raider when I was first called,” Jolie confessed.
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Jolie humorously recalled her initial reluctance to wear the iconic Lara Croft shorts, stating, “‘You can travel the world and train with the British military.’ And I said, ‘I will wear the shorts for the first five minutes and then I’ll never wear them again.’ And that’s true. And that’s the movie. That’s actually what happened.”
While the physical demands and global adventures of Tomb Raider initially attracted Jolie, it was the experience of filming in Cambodia that truly resonated with her. A year after the film’s release, she adopted her first child, Maddox, from Cambodia, solidifying her connection to the country.
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Years later, Maddox played a significant role in Jolie’s decision to direct the Netflix film First They Killed My Father, a historical drama based on Loung Ung’s memoir about surviving the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia. Maddox actively participated in the film’s production, assisting with meetings, shoot preparations, and reviewing daily footage. Jolie emphasized the importance of Maddox immersing himself in Cambodian culture and history, including its darkest chapters, while working on the film.
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Jolie’s enduring relationship with Cambodia extends beyond her professional endeavors. She continues to advocate for humanitarian causes in the country and remains deeply involved in Maddox’s life. In addition to Maddox, Jolie shares five other children with her former husband, Brad Pitt: Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne. Jolie’s latest film, Maria, a biopic about opera singer Maria Callas, has been nominated for Best Cinematography at the 97th Academy Awards.
