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It takes particular talent to step into Lara Croft’s catacomb-creeping boots. With more than a dozen Tomb Raider games under her belt, Lara is one of the best-known characters in gaming. Action, platforming, gunplay, puzzles, and a healthy dose of drama define the series, and now it’s all coming to Amazon. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s keen directorial eye should have no problem casting the right Croft, but we’ve picked out a handful of stars with the talent to do Lara justice. Here are five actors who should play Lara Croft in Amazon’s new Tomb Raider series, in no particular order.
Daisy Ridley
Most famous for playing Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Daisey Ridley exhibits the perfect combination of seriousness, professionalism, and charm for the part. Lara Croft’s no-nonsense approach to treasure-hunting is pretty much how Rey approached her adventures with Finn and Poe, so it wouldn’t be much of a leap. Daisey also has done enough combat training for past roles that her movements wouldn’t look like Lara’s iconic (and cursed) tank controls, which is always a plus.
Olivia Cooke
From emotionally detached Amanda in Thoroughbreds to eternal cool girl Art3mis in Ready Player One, Olivia Cooke brings something unique to every role. Olivia also demonstrated wit and empathy during her multi-season run in Bates Motel. Still, it’s her steely side that makes her a good fit for Croft. Lara’s survived betrayal, the loss of loved ones, and more than her fair share of explosions; she needs an actor who can translate that grit into something more. Olivia could be just the person for the job.
Aubrey Plaza
Yes, Aubrey Plaza almost always gets cast as weirdos, so Lara would be a bit of a departure. That said, Aubrey’s long career has demonstrated her talent for working with directors to find new and compelling angles for a character. Just look at her performances in Parks and Rec, Legion, and Life After Beth. You don’t need any Tomb Raider cheat codes to get captivating work from Aubrey. That already puts her ahead of the competition. If Phoebe Waller-Bridge could harness Aubrey’s off-kilter energy, the results would be magical.
Lauren Cohan
Lauren Cohan’s long stint on The Walking Dead proved several things. She can fight, shoot, and act circles around most of her contemporaries. Lauren is one of a handful of actors who wouldn’t just manage the role but actually elevate it. With countless hours spent practicing with guns and learning fight choreography for her role as Maggie Rhee, Lauren wouldn’t even need much training to get up to speed. If Amazon doesn’t give her a shot as the world’s deadliest archeologist, somebody should.
Emilia Clarke
Emilia Clarke’s career includes Solo: A Star Wars Story and Terminator Genisys, but it’s her work on Game of Thrones that marks her as a top Croft contender. Not only does she look like she could’ve stepped straight out of photo mode, but she’s got the skills to back it up. Never mind that the Mother of Dragons didn’t do much brawling in Westeros. Emilia’s ability to switch from charm to intimidation in an instant would serve her well as Lara, as would her overall depth as an actor. If Amazon wants its Lara Croft adaptation to reach icon status, teaming up with a Targaryen is a good way to go.
