Original 'Tomb Raider' Director Reveals Why It Was Difficult to Cast Angelina Jolie

Tomb Raider director Simon West is opening up about the difficulty he faced casting Angelina Jolie for the role.

The Lara Croft: Tomb Raider director revealed that when Angelina auditioned for the part, he had difficulty convincing others she was the right person for the job.

“[She] had a great, dark reputation about her. She lived quite an alternative lifestyle and didn’t hold back her words,” he told EW.

“She spoke her mind, and she had a notorious reputation. It was quite hard for me to get her through the approval process at the studio, because I wanted an actress who was going to bring something to the part, and she brought this great Angelina Jolie mythology with her as this dark, crazy, wicked woman with a very particular and interesting personality. I wanted that mythology of Angelina Jolie to fuse with Lara Croft.”

Pictured below: Angelina goes shopping on a family outing on Sunday (March 11) in Studio City, Calif.