Alicia Vikander doffs hat to original Lara Croft

CEBU, Philippines - In a way, Angelina Jolie paved the way for Alicia Vikander.

E! News caught up with the 27-year-old actress at the Las Vegas premiere of her new movie, “Jason Bourne,” and asked her how it feels to be taking over the role Jolie made famous 15 years ago.

“That is a woman I would love to meet,” Vikander said of Jolie, a fellow Oscar winner who starred in 2001’s “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” and its sequel, 2003’s “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.”

“She made an icon of that character, of course,” Vikander said, adding that she is a longtime fan of Jolie’s work, both in front of and behind the camera.

“She’s quite an incredible woman,” she raved of the actress, director and writer. “I would love to meet her.”

However,  this year’s Oscars Best Supporting Actress won’t be calling Jolie for advice as she prepares to play the video game character. “What we’re doing is something quite different since they rebooted the game in 2013. It’s a whole new take,” she explained. “We’re doing a film of that game.”

Vikander’s “Tomb Raider” hits theaters on March 16, 2018.

Before filming begins, Vikander will be traveling all over the world to promote another movie, “The Light Between Oceans” co-starring her boyfriend, Michael Fassbender.

“We’re both very excited. It’s been almost two years since we finished the film,” she said of Derek Cianfrance’s drama, due in theaters. “I’ve seen a late cut of the film, and I think we’re all very proud."

For now, though, Vikander’s focus is on “Jason Bourne,” which hits Philippine theaters July 27. (FREEMAN)