The international face of action hero Lara Croft has today been revealed as an unknown 20-year-old model from Bethnal Green, London.

Karima Adebibe, is set to be catapulted into the world of superstardom after being cast from thousands of hopefuls in an international search to fill the shoes of one of Hollywoods' biggest stars.

Karima, a self-confessed tomboy and Top Shop sales assistant, will need all her reserves of energy for the adventures that lie ahead in one of entertainment's most challenging acting and modeling roles. Starting immediately, she will embark on a grueling training program that includes a SAS survival, combat and fire weapons course in Eastern Europe and another in world archaeology, deportment, elocution and etiquette lessons in order to portray Lady Lara Croft, the 11th generation Countess, archaeologist and action hero.

Once completely trained in the ways of video gaming leading woman, Karima will be lining up a host of international modeling assignments, starring in TV commercials, appearing on chat shows and is set to be traveling the globe for the next two years.

"This is an incredible opportunity for me and one which I plan to grasp with both hands", said Karima. "It's a huge challenge to follow in the footsteps of people like Nell McAndrew and Angelina Jolie, but life is all about challenges and this is perhaps the biggest one for a model and actress."


Already tipped as 'the blockbuster video game for 2006' this will be the seventh game of English publisher Eidos' hit series and sees Lara Croft return to her tomb-raiding roots. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Tomb Raider is one of the best selling videogames of all time. Lara Croft has transcended games, entertainment and technology into action figures, comic books, adventure novels, and two major motion pictures.

Karima follows in the footsteps of previous Lara Croft stars, Lucy Clarkson, Rhona Mitra, Nell McAndrew, Vanessa Demouy, Lara Weller and of course Angelina Jolie in the Tomb Raider movies.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend is to be released on April 7th in Europe and April 11th in North America on PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC with Xbox 360 and PSP versions to follow shortly after.