The Tomb Raider franchise is celebrating its 30th anniversary with announcements of two new games and updates on upcoming adaptations. Alix Wilton Regan will voice Lara Croft in the upcoming titles, while Sophie Turner takes on the role in a new Amazon Studios TV series. The milestone highlights the evolution of the character across games, films, and television over three decades.
Tomb Raider, first released in 1996, has seen Lara Croft portrayed by ten different actors in various media. The original game featured Shelley Blond as the voice, recording lines in a five-hour session in May 1995, including phrases like 'Welcome to My Home' and 'Here lies the Tomb of Qualopec.' Blond's performance established Lara's sassy and independent personality, drawing inspiration from Indiana Jones-style adventures.
Judith Gibbins voiced Lara in Tomb Raider II (1997) and Tomb Raider III (1998), bringing a more mature and confident tone. Her recording for the sequel took place over a few days in a Chelsea studio. Jonell Elliott followed in Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999), Tomb Raider Chronicles (2000), and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003), infusing the character with sass inspired by Sigourney Weaver's Ripley in Alien. Elliott's one-week recording session in a Soho studio contributed to smoother graphics and Egypt-set storylines.
Crystal Dynamics took over the series, with Keeley Hawes voicing Lara in Tomb Raider: Legend (2006), Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007), and Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008), as well as spin-offs like Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light and Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris. Hawes delivered determination and emotion, moving away from tank controls to more fluid gameplay.
The Survivor Trilogy shifted to a younger, vulnerable Lara, voiced by Camilla Luddington in Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015), and Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018). This era focused on survival elements and early adventures.
Recent developments include remastered collections released in 2024 and 2025. At The Game Awards in December 2025, Crystal Dynamics announced Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a reimagining of the 1996 original, and Tomb Raider: Catalyst for 2027, both voiced by Alix Wilton Regan. These titles unify the series timeline, continuing from Underworld.
In films, Angelina Jolie played Lara in 2001's Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and 2003's Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, emphasizing her as a flirty yet warrior-like woman. Alicia Vikander portrayed a determined Lara in the 2018 reboot film. On television, Hayley Atwell voiced Lara in the 2024 Netflix anime series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, exploring her anxiety and confidence post-Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Sophie Turner's casting in the Prime Video series, confirmed in 2025 and filming with a 2027 premiere, features the classic outfit and involvement from Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
