Angelina Jolie Used to Smoke Two Packs a Day — Here's How HerTomb RaiderRole Helped Her Quit

Mar. 15, 2025

Angelina Jolie.Photo:Michael Kovac/Getty

Michael Kovac/Getty

Angelina Joliewas smoking two packs of cigarettes a day before filming Tomb Raider forced her to turn her health around.On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the actress, 49, attended the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in Santa Barbara, Calif., for a conversation about her life and career as she received the Maltin Modern Master award.During a Q&A with critic Leonard Maltin, Jolie spoke about her role as video game icon Lara Croft in 2001’sTomb Raiderand her physical preparation for the film.“I admittedly came [in] smoking two packs a day and completely had to change my health and my life and discover that I could do things I didn’t know I could do,” she shared, adding that the movie “would change everything” for her.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.EverettThe PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Jolie said she started training “really hard” forTomb Raider,which was far from her norm. That fitness routine ultimately led to her quitting smoking as she started making healthier lifestyle changes overall.“ForTomb Raiderthere were a few months of just nothing but multiple training sessions a day: morning, noon and night,” she recalled. “And I didn’t want anything but good food, water, and sleep at a certain point.”“I was in training and that’s what your body [wants]… You change.”Jolie said that after the film, she had children and just quit smoking for good. The actress is mom of six —Maddox, 23,Pax, 21,Zahara, 20,Shiloh, 18, and twinsKnox LéonandVivienne Marcheline, 16, whom she shares with ex-husbandBrad Pitt, 61.“I never did it again…Well, I think I did once or twice,” she quipped.

Angelina Joliewas smoking two packs of cigarettes a day before filming Tomb Raider forced her to turn her health around.

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the actress, 49, attended the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in Santa Barbara, Calif., for a conversation about her life and career as she received the Maltin Modern Master award.

During a Q&A with critic Leonard Maltin, Jolie spoke about her role as video game icon Lara Croft in 2001’sTomb Raiderand her physical preparation for the film.

“I admittedly came [in] smoking two packs a day and completely had to change my health and my life and discover that I could do things I didn’t know I could do,” she shared, adding that the movie “would change everything” for her.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

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The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Jolie said she started training “really hard” forTomb Raider,which was far from her norm. That fitness routine ultimately led to her quitting smoking as she started making healthier lifestyle changes overall.

“ForTomb Raiderthere were a few months of just nothing but multiple training sessions a day: morning, noon and night,” she recalled. “And I didn’t want anything but good food, water, and sleep at a certain point.”

“I was in training and that’s what your body [wants]… You change.”

Jolie said that after the film, she had children and just quit smoking for good. The actress is mom of six —Maddox, 23,Pax, 21,Zahara, 20,Shiloh, 18, and twinsKnox LéonandVivienne Marcheline, 16, whom she shares with ex-husbandBrad Pitt, 61.

“I never did it again…Well, I think I did once or twice,” she quipped.

source: people.com