Hi Alison! Can you start by telling us exactly how you got offered the chance to model as Lara Croft? Did you actively pursue the role?
Alison Carroll: I was put up for the role by my agent as I was the only gymnast on the books so I went along to the audition with hundreds of other hopeful girls. There was a circus acrobat, a kick boxer, a martial arts expert, dancers and stunt performers and we were all there in our home made Lara outfits.
I did my audition and then got a call back for the next round. This time I got to try on the actual Lara costume, do some of my back flips and hand stands in front of some of the Eidos Tomb Raider people, and I got the role!
Did you ever imagine you’d be Lara Croft when you were growing up?
AC: I always wanted to play an action heroine who could do her own stunts. The opportunity to play Lara Croft not only brought out my acting skills but my gymnastics as well – it’s my dream job.
Gymnastics, hey? You sound like the perfect Lara Croft.
AC: I don’t know about the perfect, but it definitely helped me in taking on the role. As the new model, with my abilities, it’s highlighting the athletic side of Lara, because I rock climb, I scuba dive, I swim, I high dive – all the sorts of things Lara does in the game. I’m bringing Lara to life.
Would an action babe like you ever go out with a beer-drinking drongo like me?
AC: At the moment I don’t have any time for guys – it’s just too hectic, too busy. But I think if I was to, it would be a male version of Lara – quite strong, athletic, adventurous.
How do you feel about replacing Karima Adebibe and stepping into the same boots as Rhona Mitra and the other Laras?
AC: All the other models have been absolutely amazing and I feel very privileged to be following in their footsteps. Karima, Rhona and all the other models have all done great work.
Did Karima or Eidos offer you any advice on how to play Lara or respond to the fans?
AC: As an actress I researched the role to enable me to bring Lara to life, but the best part of the job is meeting the fans and they’ve all been very supportive and have made my job very enjoyable.
What about the guns?
AC: I had to practise lots with them. When you’ve got the boots and the holsters and the guns, it’s all really heavy and it weighs you down. So I had to do lots of practice. I was often out on the lawn doing gymnastics with guns. I don’t know what the neighbors thought.
Do you think you bring anything new to Lara’s character? We know you’ve got some experience as a gymnast from the demonstration you did back at the Luton Hoo Tomb Raider event. You were very impressive.
AC: Oh, thank you! I was actually chosen for the role because of my gymnastic background, which means I’m able to bring the physical side of Lara to life, something which hasn’t really ever been done before.
Apart from your acrobatic skills, do you have any other skills that think make you a good fit for Lara? We saw you try your hand at knife throwing before and you were certainly much better than we were – have you been practicing any other skills?
AC: Well, I also enjoy going rock climbing, scuba diving and high diving, all of which Lara does in the new game. I’m also a gymnast and can do a lot of the moves that Lara does, so I think Lara and I share quite a few skills.
You spend a lot of time in Lara’s outfit, running around with guns – so we can probably guess the reaction you get from men, but what sort of reaction do you get from other women? What do women tend to think of Lara Croft?
AC: Lara is a strong, independent and confident woman, so I think she’s got great appeal to woman as well as men.
You must spend a lot of time around the fans though– do you have any horror stories or stalkers at all? It must get a little surreal at times.
AC: Well, one very enthusiastic fan asked me to marry him once! On the whole though, the fans have been really fantastic. Obviously, it’s a big change from what I was doing previously but I love every minute of it. I’m having a great time.
Lara’s character has changed a lot over the years, from the sex symbol of the early years to a more serious and driven character in Tomb Raider: Legend and now from what we’ve seen in Underworld too – do you think that’s a good thing, or is Lara is starting to take herself too seriously?
AC: Lara always has and always will be a strong and confident character, so she has an everlasting appeal. She’s not really changed all that much.
What do you think Lara’s best and worst features are – and what do like most and least about playing her?
AC: Could there be anything bad about playing Lara Croft? I don’t think so!
There have been plenty of Lara models over the years – what are you hoping to do after Tomb Raider, or are you planning to stick around for another few stints playing Ms. Croft in future games?
AC: Well, at the moment I‘m focusing most on perfecting the way I play the role of Lara, but after that I hope to be in films and television – but who knows, eh?
Last question: Lara was originally closely based on Indiana Jones, but with Harrison Ford getting on a bit now (and the last film being especially pants) there’s a gap in the market. So, if it came to it do you think you could beat Indy in no-holds barred fight for the title of King of Archaeology?
AC: Absolutely! Lara could definitely take on Indiana Jones!
Post a Comment