London Receptionist Becomes The New Lara Croft

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: BBC News

Twenty-three year old Alison Carroll, a London receptionist and gymnast, is set to follow in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie and Nell McAndrew as the new face of video game icon, Lara Croft. Alison is about to star in TV commercials and marketing campaigns around the world for the upcoming release of "Tomb Raider: Underworld", which is due out in November. Alison told the UK Newsbeat website, "It's an amazing opportunity. Lara is strong, athletic, confident and independent so it's a huge responsibility to take on her role." The character, Lara Croft has become an international icon, and Alison believes she is the ultimate female image. "She's got everything that a woman aspires to be like and everything that a man would like to meet."

Alison Carroll has 12 years experience as a professional display gymnast who has represented Great Britain in international competitions. She is set to start a series of courses, including SAS survival, combat and semi-automatic weapon firing in Eastern Europe and a crash course in world archaeology to help transform her into Lara Croft. Alison already has a disciplined training regime, working out in the gym six times a week. She also coaches younger gymnasts.

Carroll admits that she still can't believe she's Lara Croft, "This is my dream job. I have always wanted to be an action hero and hope to be able to use my gymnastic ability to perform all of Lara's stunts."

'Underworld" is the first Tomb Raider title build from the ground-up for next-generation consoles and it's designers claim the new game will be "breathtaking". According to Eidos, the company that produces the game, Lara Croft will explore locations "designed with an incredible attention to detail... that creates a truly believable world and delivers a new level of challenge and choice".

When asked if modern gamers still will flock to a new "Tomb Raider" game when the market is flooded with constant new titles, Alison replied, ""Lara Croft is an iconic gaming character. She just goes from strength to strength. She's still as relevant today as she ever was."