Lara Croft: from big breasts to brains and brawn

Lara Croft first hit our computer screens in 1996. The legend goes that her in-your-face ample chest was not an intended feature: a simple coding error gave her those exaggerated proportions. But with the programmer's male colleagues suitably impressed, the bust was there to stay, along with a suitably skimpy outfit — ideal for an intrepid explorer.

First came Pac-Man and Super Mario, then, in the 90s, came Lara Croft. The new heroine was a source of fascination for the male-dominated gaming world. Not only was she strong and courageous, she also had a Barbie-doll-like unrealistic body: big breasts, a tiny waist and a prominent behind.

Is was only a matter of time before the successful computer game migrated to the big screen — with a real woman taking the lead. Angelina Jolie was THE dream woman and she embodied the Tomb Raider in two feature films.

In 2001 the first "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" film was released in cinemas. Lara finds a clock at her dead father's house. It holds a secret, which guides her towards an object of great power. The film delivered exactly what it promised to: hotpants, guns, action and breathtaking sets. Despite failing to impress the critics, the film hauled in around $280 million (€227 million) worldwide.

The second film, "Tomb Raider — The Cradle of Life," enjoyed modest success. Jolie gave her all, but rather than an Oscar nod she landed a nomination for a "worst actress" Golden Raspberry. Depth just wasn't something this character could offer at the time, and the package remained the same: attractive woman, action and entertainment.

By 2006, a decade after the first installment of the "Tomb Raider — Legend" game came out, Lara had already taken on more realistic features. Gradually the digital character began to look more like the human Laras – the models, like Karima Adebibe (pictured), who promoted the series in the real world.

In 2013 the makers of the "Tomb Raider" games agreed on a reboot. A completely new central character emerged: tough, petite and clever. The game dealt with the background of Lara Croft, the archaeologist's daughter, and showed how an inexperienced researcher could turn into a brave fighter and master of survival.

By this point, the costs involved in making a blockbuster game could easily eclipse a feature-film budget — and this was no exception. Technology had matured so much that this version of Lara Croft was almost life-like.

Alicia Vikander is the perfect representative for the petite new Lara Croft. The latest "Tomb Raider" film tells the story of the 2013 game reboot. Lara goes on the search for her father, who is presumed dead. Along the way she confronts numerous threats and eventually has to fight for her life.

Whether or not the video game reboot will translate to the big screen is something cinema-goers can decide for themselves from 15 March. Lara Croft already has six entries in the Guinness Book of World Records, including most successful video game heroine. Can Vikander help her to add a box-office record to the list?