Profiles

Lara Croft is known for being the star of Tomb Raider - both as a film character and computer game legend.

The artefact-collecting icon was conceived in the 1990s and made her game debut in 1996 before becoming the planet's most famous cyberbabe.

Officially, Lara was born in Surrey, but she was created in Derby by Toby Gard - one of the lead designers at Core Design, now based on Pride Park. She was instrumental in helping to Make Core Design one of the leading games developers in the world.

Her official character biography confirms she attended Wimbledon High School for girls at the age of 11.

Lara soon became a global figure and was portrayed by Angelina Jolie in two blockbusting movies.

Angelina Jolie

She has had scores of books based on her, together with comics, magazines and action figures and has been the subject of her own calendar.

In character, Lady Lara Croft - now her official title - was a gifted child who attended Gordonstoun and, later, Swiss finishing school. She is reputed to be an Olympic-standard gymnast, accredited genius and deft politician.

She is an 11th generation Countess.

However, other details of the archaeologist's past are confused...

It is well known that she survived a plane crash in the Himalayas - recent versions of her biography say she was aged just nine when this happened - others say she was 21+.

Recently, though, the Lara Croft empire has moved and the image changed.

Alison Carroll as Lara Croft

Her parent company has moved her future development from Derby to California, where she has been placed in the hands of Crystal Dynamics (her creator, Toby Gard is now there, too).

And the icon's face has changed - in 2008 British Gymnast Alison Carroll, from Croydon, became the new face of the heroine adventurer in time for the release of the game, Tomb Raider Underworld.

Now working as a receptionist, she beat hundreds of other hopefuls to the role.