Angelina Jolie was made to undergo daily drug tests while making Tomb Raider

Angelina Jolie was made to undergo daily drug tests while making Tomb Raider

A new book reveals that Angelina Jolie was made to undergo drug tests and mental health checks during Tomb Raider because of her ‘dangerous reputation’.

Star Angelina Jolie had to take drug tests during filming on the first Tomb Raider movie, according to a new book.

According to an excerpt from movie mogul Sherry Lansing’s biography, an excerpt of which was published in The Hollywood Reporter, the 24-year-old Lara Croft: Tomb Raider star had to agree to testing and mental well-being checks throughout filming, because studio executives were concerned about her rumoured drug use and her relationship with Billy Bob Thornton.

According to director Simon West, Jolie has pretty “dark reputation” at that time, which included rumors that she dabbled in drugs.

“She definitely had some baggage and something of a dark reputation,” said West.

“Funnily enough, that was one of my selling points: This troubled and dangerous aspect in her reputation actually helped the character,” he added.

West later decided to meet up with Jolie on the sets of Original Sin which was filming in Mexico. The director recalled that at that moment, Jolie said, “Look, I want to do it, but I know what my reputation is, and I’ll do anything you want to prove that I’m worthy. I’ll be reliable, and I’ll turn up, and I’ll work hard.”

She continued, “I don’t care if the studio wants to drug test me every day.”

Later, Jolie was obliged to undergo drug tests which involved urine tests and blood tests. She passed on the tests and finally landed the role, which helped her obtain A-list status in film industry.

Jolie’s two Tomb Raider movies, which were released in 2001 and 2003 respectively, grossed $432 million worldwide.

The upcoming Tomb Raider reboot, which stars Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft, will be released on March 16, 2018.