New Lara Croft is registered model, contrary to Eidos claims

While Eidos has been keen to play in the fact new Lara Alison Carroll was a receptionist until picked to be the new Lara model, it appears the high-kicking starlet's rags to riches story may not be all it seems.

Alison is a registered model and is represented by MCS, the same agency behind Love Island "favourite" Alicia Douvall and 80s Page 3 icon, Linda Lusardi.

Which is a bit odd, as Eidos put out a press release today claiming, "Unlike her predecessors Alison does not come from a modelling background, but with 12 years' experience as a professional display gymnast, she is completely at ease at the thought of appearing in front of thousands of screaming Lara Croft fans.

"She certainly had no trouble impressing the judges when she competed against hundreds of other hopefuls in the search to find the live model of the action heroine."

MCS just told us that Alison's been on the agency's books since February 2007. Is 18 months a "background"? Eidos seems to think not.

Thanks to the mole.