The Five Minute Interview: Alison Carroll, the new Lara Croft

Alison Carroll, 23, is an English actress best known for her role as Lara Croft in the computer game. She was born in Croydon and originally trained as a gymnast and actress before becoming a model. In August 2008, she was announced as the new Lara Croft model for the Tomb Raider: Underworld game. Tomb Raider: Underworld featuring Lara Croft is now available on the new gaming handset Sony Ericsson W910 exclusively at The Carphone Warehouse .

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be…

I’d probably be going out for a run through the woods with my iPod. I listen to all sorts of crazy stuff when I’m running.

A phrase I use far too often...

I say ‘really’ far too much.

I wish people would take more notice of...

When it was announced that I was to become Lara Croft, everyone immediately assumed I was just a model. I’m actually a trained actress so I’d really like people to be aware of the fact I am trained.

The most surprising thing that ever happened to me was...

In Italy last year, I had to do a performance with Negramaro which is a big rock band over there. I was asked to abseil from the top of the stadium and land in the middle of the whole audience. There were thousands and thousands of people watching and after the abseil, I still had to do my Lara Croft routine. It was a bit of a challenge.

I'm good at...

Gymnastics. My party trick is having the ability to balance on just one hand.

But I'm very bad at...

Is Lara Croft bad at anything? Alison might be but Lara Croft certainly isn’t.

The ideal night out is...

Doing something active. I often go down to the New Forest for a weekend for mountain biking and camping. I like my weekends to be action-packed.

In moments of weakness I...

I go for a run. It completely clears my head.

You know me as the new Lara Croft but in truer life I'd have been...

A cat. Because then I could roam around doing whatever I want, just eating and sleeping all day. Cats are also pretty athletic too.

The best age to be is...

21. I’ll always be 21 at heart despite the fact I’m 23 now and will soon be 24.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is…

Live life to the full and cram in as much as possible!