Jolie's Cambodian mission

Jolie filmed scenes from Tomb Raider in Cambodia

Tomb Raider actress Angelina Jolie has visited remote areas of Cambodia this month as a guest of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious complex

Tomb Raider, in which Jolie plays action archaeologist Lara Croft, includes several scenes shot at the renowned temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

In what is believed to be her first trip to the country since Tomb Raider filming wrapped late last year, Jolie toured former Khmer Rouge zones where the UNHCR is working with displaced and returned refugees.

"Her spirit and energy-level were fantastic," said the UNHCR's Katy Grant, who travelled with Jolie.

The radical communist Khmer Rouge under leader Pol Pot seized power in 1975 after years of guerrilla activity.

Angelina Jolie films

Hackers (1995)

Playing God (1997)

Gia (1998)

Pushing Tin (1999)

The Bone Collector (1999)

Girl, Interrupted (1999)

Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

Tomb Raider (2001)

An estimated 1.7 million Cambodians died during the ensuing unrest and though Civil War ended in 1998, the country is still desperately poor.

Jolie spent two nights each in Anlong Veng - the last stronghold of communist rebels before they were defeated in 1998 - and Samlot, another Khmer Rouge bastion.

The 26-year-old actress's week-long trip was not made public until after she departed last Friday.

Jolie was the number one choice to star in Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider has been criticised by some Cambodian cultural officials for putting Vietnamese conical hats on the fictional inhabitants of Angkor.

The Vietnamese, Cambodia's historical enemy, have never occupied Angkor.

Jolie is best known for her Oscar-nominated role as the unhinged Lisa in Girl, Interrupted and for parts as a car thief in Gone in 60 Seconds and a policewoman hunting a serial killer in The Bone Collector.

Other notable roles include a tomboy computer crook in Hackers in 1995.

She is married to actor Billy Bob Thornton.