E-Paper
Sign In
‘I just love exercise’
'Tomb Raider' star Lara Croft – gymnast Alison Carroll – talks to City Times
- PUBLISHED: Thu 30 Oct 2008, 8:47 PM UPDATED: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 3:46 PM
A VIDEO GAME legend, a wild animal and a ladykiller made quite a spectacle at Chi Garden on Tuesday night.
Headlining the Bur Dubai venue was DVJ Mo Tiger (a cross between a DJ and a VJ), with support from DJ Heartbreak Kid. Special guest was 'Tomb Raider' star Lara Croft – in reality former British gymnast Alison Carroll, recently handpicked as the character's latest incarnation.
Recommended For You
City Times caught up with all three personalities before the show.
Alison Carroll comes from Croydon, the same London suburb as Kate Moss, and like the pencil-thin supermodel her day job involves travelling around the world to various glamorous locations.
However, that's where the similarities end. Unlike the hard-partying, chain-smoking Ms Moss, Alison works out six days a week to keep both her health and formidable physique in tip-top shape as action heroine Lara Croft.
She visited Dubai as part of her ongoing world tour, promoting the hugely successful Tomb Raider franchise.
City Times met with the 23-year-old and tried very hard not to stare.
So how did you become Lara Croft?
I was selected over a year ago. My agent put me up for the role because I was the only actor on the books who was also a gymnast, and because I kind of had Lara's statistics. I went to the audition in my home-made Lara Croft outfit, which was interesting and not very well done, and there was just so many other girls there. I thought, 'I'm not going to have a hope at all.' I did all my gymnastic stuff and just tried to cram in as much as possible in 10 minutes. I got a recall and the next day I was up against a British kickboxer and I thought, 'Oh no she's really good as well', but I got the job.
What were you doing before that?
Well I was auditioning as an actress for various things but I'd just started my receptionist job at a golf club. I had been there for a year and left 'for no apparent reason'. I couldn't tell anyone – it was all kept very hush hush – but as soon as it came out in the papers I got so many phone calls and text messages from my friends. They were so pleased for me – they all know this is pretty much my ideal role because I'm combining my acting skills with live performances, doing gymnastics and getting to travel round the world. It's a dream job.
What is your performing background?
I started off doing gymnastics when I was young and from that I went into choreography and dance. Then I got into musical theatre schools and started to do acting, dancing and singing. You learn what your strengths are and I fell more into the acting, as much as I loved the other subjects as well, and joined an acting agency.
Didn't you perform for Prince Charles in your pre-Lara days?
Yes, that was quite a while ago now. I got to perform gymnastics at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth day, which was really good we were asked especially to perform for him and he gave a nice speech at the end saying how good our team was.
Who are your heroes in the acting world and who do you hope to emulate?
Probably Angelina Jolie, I do love her. She plays a lot of action characters in her films and that's what I want to do – I like to do my own stunts and would like to follow in her footsteps.
So you don't mind getting a few bruises along the way?
Oh, I've got bruises – you've got the heavy guns and the holsters and everything, they hit you occasionally. The boots are quite heavy too. But I've practiced a lot. In the months between getting offered the role and beginning as Lara, I used to go out on my garden lawn and do all my gymnastics with holsters and guns.
Do you remember when the Tomb Raider video game first launched in 1996?
When the first game came out I was too young to play it, but my brothers were Tomb Raider addicts. They'd be playing the games and I'd be peering over their shoulders wanting to play, but they would never let me. I've been playing Tomb Raider Anniversary but I'm not very good at it! I'm very much more a physical outdoors person, doing what Lara does.
How do you like to keep fit, besides from gymnastics?
I do a bit of everything. I go to the gym, I go running, I like rock climbing and scuba diving, I used to ride a horse when I was younger, I'll do 20-mile bike rides. I was in all my school sports teams – I just love exercise.
What does your day-to-day schedule involve as Lara Croft?
Every day is different and we do some really crazy activities. In Germany, I went rock climbing and canoeing, in Australia it was surfing. In Singapore two days ago we did jet-skiing and we went to the jungle and visited this spooky hospital. It's quite full on but I get to go to some fabulous places – we've been to Germany, Paris Russia, Poland, after this I'm off to South Africa, America and Copenhagen.
When your stint as Lara ends, where are you hoping to transition into?
Films and television, I'm interested in doing both but in this industry the jobs choose you rather than you choose them.
How do you bring a fresh perspective to your role as Lara Croft?
Each model has brought something brand new to the role and it's always evolving as the game is evolving. I wanted to bring the athletic side of Lara to life. There's a real depth to her character – she's intelligent, athletic, confident and strong. She's got all those sides to her. She goes out for a challenge and gets it. She fights for what she believes in.
Are you as tough as Lara in real life?
I'm not an aggressive person, but nor is Lara really – she only attacks if she's being attacked. I've been paintballing, I think that's a fierce as I get!
How have you found the female reaction to Lara? Obviously boys are particularly charmed by her but do girls look up to her as well?
They do – when I go the games conventions it's great because all the girls dress up as Lara and we get to do photoshoots together, it's really a lovely experience. There was one girl who had drawn a complete portrait of Lara as a gift and it looked identical to me, it was really sweet.
Have you ever been attracted to nerdier boys?
What do you class as a nerd? To be honest I kind of go for someone's who's quite similar to me. I'm an outdoors person so I would go for someone who's also like that.
How does it feel now that you're a celebrity? Was becoming famous an aspiration of yours when you were younger?
I don't know about being a celebrity. I always wanted to be an action heroine who could do her own stunts, but as far as being a celebrity I don't know – I'll just take it as it comes.