New Lara Croft actress Alicia Vikander used to play Tomb Raider in secret when she was growing up

Ex Machina actress Alicia Vikander seems perfectly cast for Lara Croft in the new Tomb Raider movie and it turns out that she's always been a fan of the franchise. Even going as far as playing it when it wasn't specifically forbidden. “I kept it secret – I didn’t have many girlfriends who shared that interest, but I really loved it," she says in an interview in the new issue of Total Film magazine out today. "I did play Tomb Raider back then, even though my parents said I wasn’t allowed to.” 

Vikander has had her eye on a video game movie role for a while now and had to turn down the opportunity to star alongside her boyfriend Michael Fassbender in Assassin's Creed. I presume she'd have been in the role of Maria, now taken by the excellent Ariane Labed but it looks like she's definitely won with our favourite dual pistol wielding adventurer. 

The new Tomb Raider movie is being directed by Norwegian Roar Athaug who helmed brilliant disaster movie The Wave and Vikander is ready for serious action sequences. "I danced for many years. I really enjoy the aspect of being able to work with my physicality. In one way, I can probably do that unconsciously," she says. "But in this, it’s going to be a whole other level. It’s always wonderful when you get the chance to try things out that you never thought you would be able to do, to push yourself and your boundaries.”

Read the full interview with Alicia Vikander in the brand new redesigned Total Film magazine out today or subscribe to further issues here.