Lara Croft is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Square Enix (previously Eidos Interactive) video game series Tomb Raider.
She is presented as a beautiful, intelligent, and athletic
archaeologist-adventurer who ventures into ancient, hazardous tombs and
ruins around the world. Created by Toby Gard during his employment at
British developer Core Design, the character first appeared in the 1996
video game Tomb Raider. Other appearances include video game sequels,
printed adaptations, a series of animated short films, feature films
(portrayed by Angelina Jolie), and merchandise related to the series.
Official promotion of the character includes a brand of apparel and
accessories, action figures, and model portrayals. Lara Croft has also
been licensed for third-party promotion, including television and print
advertisements, music-related appearances, and as a spokesmodel.
