Thread: Lara Croft wants a Ironmagazine man for 2009

Tomb Raider mode Alison Carroll has had a Lara fun as Lara Croft in 2008 | The Sun |Fun|Gizmo

LOOK out lads... joysticks at the ready - Lara Croft is targeting a new fella for 2009.
Sexy model Alison Carroll, who plays the Tomb Raider cyberbabe, has already received SEVEN marriage proposals from smitten fans around the world but none of them could match the all-action beauty from Croydon.

Mind you, judging by our exclusive pictures, it's easy to see why they all offered her their hands.



The former gym receptionist was plucked from obscurity to act as the real-life Lara, perform stunts and make personal appearances.


She told us: "The Tomb Raider fans are absolutely lovely. It is so weird. Before I go on stage they'll all be shouting 'Lara, Lara' and want to climb on the stage. It is very strange.

"Then you'll have people queuing up for a couple of hours before I get there to do a signing. I'm like 'Wow, they are queuing up for me. That is so cool'.

"I've had about seven marriage proposals. I get handed all these little notes. In my holsters are these little pockets so I put them in there.

"People have given me things in French, German, all sorts of languages, but what they need to do is leave me a little photo. I see so many people, so with a photo I could remember them. I keep getting fan mail which is quite surreal.

"All the attention is strange but totally cool. It is really good fun."


Smoking ... beauty is the real-life cyberbabe
Alison has travelled the globe in a whirlwind few months promoting the latest Tomb Raider: Underworld title. Although after these stunning shots, perhaps they should rename it Tomb Raider: Underwear. The adventure features Lara Croft swimming, which gave us the perfect excuse to get her into a bikini. You can see more snaps in our great slideshow above.

She said: "The bikini shoots were what I needed to get used to. I hadn't done those before becoming Lara so that was quite surreal. But now I am enjoying it."

The Londoner, a trained gymnast, has visited countries as far afield as Australia, Singapore, Dubai, Scandinavia, South Africa and America as well as trekking across Europe in that famously-tight costume.

She explained: "It has been really hard work, you're flying all over the place. One week from the Monday to the Sunday I was in a different place every day. Instead of getting up the morning and getting on the train to London for work I was getting on planes.

"We managed to do so many cool stunts though. We went surfing in Australia, loads of rock-climbing and canoeing plus interviews and TV appearances. I don't miss my old day job too much, I definitely prefer this.

"I love just getting to meet so many people from around the world and showing them what I can do with my gymnastics."

But there are pitfalls to being turned into one of the world's most recognisable fantasy characters. She added: "The worst part is being annoyed I am so tired. It is amazing but when you are doing like an 11 hour flight to South Africa and don't sleep at all, then have to work a full day until 10pm. I was in the most amazing place but I was so tired. It is really irritating.

"It is also difficult to do gymnastics repetitively on a hard surface so that has got to hurt at some point. I bruised all the palms of my hand."

Her success follows in the footsteps of former Lara Croft models like Nell McAndrew and Lucy Clarkson - and it has made her a big hit with family, friends and even her old boss!

She explained: "My family love it. They've been cutting all the stuff out the newspapers. I've also heard from loads of friends I hadn't seen in a while saying how proud they are.

"I have been back to the gym because I have my personal training sessions there. They're all happy about it. There's no hard feelings. Although I've not been back there in the costume. I'm not allowed to take it home. It is kept under lock and key.


Gunning for a fella ... will the new year bring Alison a new man?
"It is quite a revealing outfit. It takes time to get into and to do all the hair and make-up and holsters.

"We also had to adapt it as where I am doing all the gymnastics, we had to make sure it doesn't move around and it is securely placed on me."

Alison is now preparing for a quiet start to the New Year but revealed she has a film in the pipeline.

She says: "I've only got a very small part. It is a British comedy horror called Doghouse with Danny Dyer. I play one of the girls that likes to kill the men. It is something completely different to Lara so was nice."

And the single stunner adds: "I've been so busy, my feet haven't touched the ground. But now I am back in England, and not going on so many trips, maybe someone will be out there for me."

Right, steady now gents. Form an orderly queue and remember... don't forget those photos!

NICE