Jill De Jong

FULL NAME: Jill De Jong PROFESSION: Model BIRTH PLACE: Hoogeveen, Netherlands BIRTH DATE: 17-02-1982 PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Netherlands MARITAL STATUS: Single HEIGHT: 6ft WEIGHT: 64kg EYES: Green HAIR: Naturally Blonde VITAL STATISTICS: 34-26-38

Friends and family always thought Jill would make a great Lara Croft as she shares Lara's thirst for adventure and travel.

Jill found out about her appointment as the new face of Lara Croft following several meetings with the creators of the game.

She says: "I hardly slept the night before I found out as I knew the competition was tough. Being Lara Croft was something I really wanted to do. I received the phone call from Eidos and I just couldn't believe it. I immediately called my parents and my agency. By the time I'd realised what was happening, I was already in the car on the way to have my costume fitted."

Jill's modelling career began at 15 when she won a modelling contest in Holland. The first prize was a trip to a top agency in Milan - as soon as she arrived Jill was offered a full-time contract. Jill knew that finishing school was the most important thing so she postponed her modelling career until after her final exams.

"The day after my last exam, I flew back to Milan to begin my new career. I thought I would try modelling for one year and then go back to school once I'd decided what I wanted to study." The work began coming in thick and fast and one year soon became three.

Like Lara Croft, Jill loves adventure and sport and enjoys beating men at their own game.

"Before I became a model I used to play football, that's something I really miss when I'm travelling. If the opportunity for a game arises, no one can stop me. I recently asked some guys in Paris if I could join their game and they all laughed at me. 15 minutes into the game and they were all laughing at their team mates!"

Jill's past modelling jobs include last year's European L'Oreal hair care campaign. Her career has taken her to some of the most beautiful places in the world including Cuba, Bahamas, Morocco, Jamaica and Cape Town, not to mention Paris, New York, Miami and Barcelona.

"Like Lara I love travelling but my favorite place in the whole world is being anywhere with the people I love. I can be in the most beautiful place in the world but nothing competes with spending time with my family."

Jill is extremely close to her parents and it was important that they were happy with her career choice: "I'm so happy they've given me this chance, they have always trusted and believed in me." Jill's happy to be a model for the next couple of years but would eventually like to start her own business. She's currently looking into courses at London's European Business School.