LUCY CLARKSON - THE INTERVIEW

What's the question you are most often asked when you are `in character' as Lara?

Do you get to have guns? Yes, I do have a good pair of guns and they're a fantastic way to scare men off.

Have you had many requests for dates from Lara fans?

I have them lining up at the front door asking to see me, for my autograph, it's like being famous. But it's not that exciting for me, as they are mostly between the ages of 8-10.

When you `act Lara' do you imagine you are really her, or is it just putting on an outfit?

When you put the outfit on, it's like "Stars in their Eyes" and I am transformed into `Lara Croft', its so amazing. Its like a dream, she's such an intelligent and sexy person to be and I just love being her.

What is the toughest thing about portraying the virtual Heroine Lara Croft?

Squeezing into my rubber second skin, when I first tried it on, it was almost impossible, but now having had plenty of practice you get kind of used to it. It's worth it anyway.

What do you do in your spare time?

I go horse riding, I know it sounds boring but I enjoy it. I love going bowling with my boyfriend but I can never beat him. I work out quite a lot, its essential when being Lara Croft. Most of all I love going shopping with my Mum and Sister and treating them now and again.

Is Lara Croft a good role model for women or just a curvy fantasy for gamers?

I think she's a fantastic role model because she is not only curvy and sexy, she's independent, very bright and knows what she wants in life.

What's the oddest thing that has happened to you as Lara? Ever met anybody who couldn't separate fantasy from reality?

E3 completely blew my mind. I've never met so many men that are obsessed with Lara Croft.

Do you have a boyfriend? If so, what does he think of you being Lara Croft?

I do have a boyfriend, and he's also a model, so he can appreciate that it's a fantastic job.

Do you think Angelina Jolie will make a good Lara in the movie? Will you be in it?

Yes, Angelina Jolie will be a fantastic Lara Croft, No I won't be in it.

How do you feel about instant celebrity and hordes of admiring men?

That's what I am here for, to make fans happy and do the best I can.

You're the youngest ever Lara Croft is that ever weird?

No I think it's great, it gives people something else to talk about.

LUCY CLARKSON TALKS TO EIDOS

London based Tomb Raider publishers Eidos Interactive have released an exclusive interview with their latest Lara Croft model Lucy Clarkson, quizzing the former model on her role as Core Designs British diva:

What was it like when you first found out you had been chosen to be Lara Croft ? What did you do ?

I couldn't believe it. I was absolutely gob smacked because it was such a big thing for me. Before that I was a bit down in the dumps because I had been told I was too fat to work so I was so down, and then I got a call from my agent saying that someone has seen my model card and wanted to call about the possibility of me being Lara Croft.

Before I actually got it I spent two months going to the gym, meeting all the different people and going through all the different selection stages. Eventually the auditions would get narrowed down to the last ten, then the last five and I just couldn't believe it when they picked me to be Lara.

There were two others in the final audition and I had to dress up and go and meet the directors, and as soon as I opened my mouth and they knew I was from Yorkshire, they kind of took to me straight away. I was on the train on the way home and they phoned me to tell me that I'd got the job! I started crying because I was in so much shock but my Mum and Dad had always said that I'd get it. It's the perfect job for me because even though I've always worked out, it makes me go to the gym to keep fit. And it's also good because someone's actually appreciating shape and not telling you to lose weight for the job and I love doing it.

I get recognized the most when I'm on the train because I spend so much time travelling around on them. It's weird because lately I seem to get recognized quite a lot, because people will come up to me and say "Are you famous?" I have to say "Not quite, I am in a way but I am a personality through the work I do." They'll ask what I do, and when I tell them I'm Lara Croft they'll be like "I told you so!" to their friends. I always carry cards around with me as I like to be able to sign them for the fans as I am getting recognized more and more.

Has it been everything you were expecting ?

It's been more than I expected. It's been an absolutely unbelievable experience and I've grown up so much while I've been doing it. The people I work with, the make-up artists, the stylists, my managers - they're unbelievable and they all get on so well and it's just so enjoyable. If it wasn't for the people around me then I wouldn't enjoy doing the job as much.

What's it like when you get to meet the Tomb Raider fans ?

I love it! It is strange sometimes because you get young children aged about eight and at the other end of the scale you get grown up men, 50 year olds obsessed with Lara! It's not a bad thing at all, but the age difference can be a little weird at times. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my fans, so I love them all!

Is that a good or bad thing for you?

Good thing, definitely. I like it a lot because I'm not the sort of person to just turn around and not speak to them or tell them they can't have a picture. I think it's wrong because I'll always, always have time for fans and I'll always go out of my way to sign their autographs. I love it, it's great!

Tomb Raider publishers Eidos Interactive have released the second part of their interview with real life Lara Croft model Lucy Clarkson.

Has playing Lara opened up lots of different doors for you and enabled you to do things you normally wouldn't have been able to do ?

I still do other jobs as I'm a full time professional model. I appeared in an Airwaves advert, and because the company behind it wanted someone fit and athletic, as soon as they found out I was Lara Croft they decided that I was exactly what they were looking for.

Even though I had the wrong colour hair, and had to dye it all blond I still got the job! When I tell people what I do and they see on my modelling card that I'm Lara Croft, I stand out from the rest, and they'll have a second look at the card. Being Lara has definitely opened a lot more doors for me.

Do you find you travel abroad a lot being Lara ?

Yes! When I got the job it was only supposed to be a years contract, but they renewed it for a second year. The first ever job I had was doing the E3 show in Los Angeles and that really opened my eyes - it was an unbelievable experience. After that I've been to Portugal, Paris and Dublin where I took part in the Late Late Show. That was quite good because it was live and also a little nerve wracking too.

What's been the highlight for you so far during your time as Lara Croft ?

II think the main thing for me would be the E3 show just because of the size and scale of the event. It was an experience that I'll never forget. But I also really enjoyed the Croft Manor weekend - mainly because I've never dressed in anything else apart from the original Lara Suit or the black cat suit and because I had to welcome the guests as their host Ms. Croft, I got to wear a really slinky dress with the gun strapped to my legs! Doing a bit of acting as well made the Croft Manor event more enjoyable too because normally I keep quiet and smile a lot!

Do you have a funniest or most embarrassing moment?

Oh, at Croft Manor again. I had to do an appearance at around 11o'clock as the guests were having a BBQ and just walk by so they could see I was around and I had the dark shades on and I fell down some stairs.

Everyone started laughing and I didn't know what else to do so I just bowed at everyone. I managed to miss the first step and just started walking. I didn't actually fall over, I just tripped but if you could see the size of my boots I can hardly feel anything underneath them anyway! That's the most embarrassing moment, but I'm usually quite careful and alert. At first when I met people I didn't know what to say so I felt a bit stupid then, but know I've settled into the role at more and I'm used to that now.

Do you know what you'll be up to in the future as Lara?

Lucy Clarkson: I don't really know to be honest. Some jobs, like the Croft Manor event I'll know about for a month or so before it happens, but mostly I get booked the week before. I prefer it like that though as there's a little more surprise and I don't know what I'll be doing.

Have you ever had any strange experiences getting the guns through customs when you travel abroad?

Not through customs, but we did have a strange time in Dublin. I was opening a mobile shop there and someone had seen me come out of the hotel dressed as Lara Croft with the guns and phoned the police! They told the police that they'd seen a woman with two guns getting into a car!

They'd seen me dressed as Lara with the guns and they actually thought I was going to rob a bank or something! We got stopped and pulled over but nothing came of it!

Are you a Manchester City fan yet?

Err, I am now. I'm not really into football but when I went to see the Man City Vs Man Utd game, I couldn't watch because I had to do appearances and I was quite upset about that. But now they're playing in the same league as Rotherham United who are my local team so that'll be a good one to watch! It is good to go though, and I get a lot of wolf whistles from the players and fans when I go to be in a team photo for example.