Eidos Interactive Ltd., creator of some of the world’s leading videogame properties, today revealed that seasoned gymnast Alison Carroll will be the new face of famed video game character Lara Croft.  Carroll will portray the internationally recognized heroine for the next year with her first appearances to be made promoting the latest installment to the gaming franchise, Tomb Raider: Underworld, which ships on November 2008.

 

Featuring the essential characteristics at the core of Lara Croft’s personality -- brawn, brains and beauty -- Alison Carroll particularly compliments this iteration of Ms. Croft. Tomb Raider: Underworld is the first Tomb Raider game designed to fully reflect the physical athleticism and real-world skills required of a world-class adventurer. With an all-new engine built specifically to exploit the capabilities of the latest game consoles, Tomb Raider: Underworld depicts Lara as we have never seen her before with movements and skills reminiscent of a highly skilled gymnast. Sharing Lara’s strength and grace, Alison is an experienced competitive gymnast who has performed and competed across the globe.  Her more than 12 years of gymnastics training align perfectly with the game’s enhanced movement set.

Throughout her adventure in Tomb Raider: Underworld, Lara faces challenges unlike anything she’s experienced in the past, putting her own training to the ultimate test. In preparation for this role, Alison is embarking on a regime that includes survival, combat and semi-automatic weapons training, as well as world archeology coursework, all of which compliment the mythology and exploration themes at the heart of the Tomb Raider franchise.  Alison is also enjoying special early access to the highly anticipated Tomb Raider: Underworld to study Lara’s movements, techniques and personality as a next generation gaming heroine.

 

“This is a fantastic opportunity and I look forward to embracing Lara’s world,” said Alison Carroll. “It’s unbelievable how realistic her movements are in Tomb Raider: Underworld and it’s so gratifying to be able to use my years of gymnastic training to portray such a beloved character.” 

 Sarah Hoeksma, Eidos Group Marketing Director says; “With her tremendous athletic ability, dance training and striking look we feel Alison embodies all the assets required to be the live model of Lara Croft, and we are really looking forward to working with her.”

 

 

 

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