Home Women Nell McAndrew :

Moving to London, McAndrew aggressively shopped her look around. It was The Daily Star newspaper that first put her on its front cover. Not much time passed before other publications were asking about this new face, and, after entertaining a few other offers, McAndrew took on her first big job as the real-life representation of the video game character, Lara Croft. Following in the footsteps of such established models as Rhona Mitra, McAndrew toured as the Tomb Raider heroine for over a year, attracting attention at conventions and in print. This experience was regarded by McAndrew as invaluable, though a sour note was left after being denied the opportunity to appear at the British movie premiere of Tomb Raider, starring Angelina Jolie. After all, McAndrew was partly responsible for making Lara Croft the cult figure she is. 

McAndrew is 5'9" tall and her stats are 32D-25-36. She started her career as a Page Three girl at the Daily Star, before becoming the official Lara Croft model for the video game Tomb Raider in 1998. She got breast implants in order to feel more like Croft.[citation needed] She revealed in an interview with FHM that her implants make her feel sexier. McAndrew was immediately fired from her stint as Croft in 1999 after posing nude for the cover of Playboy, the first British woman to do so. This was partly due to the fact Playboy printed references to Lara Croft and Tomb Raider on the cover (which were quickly removed when Eidos, the maker of the game, threatened with a lawsuit).

She has since gone on to enjoy a massively successful career as a glamour model, appearing in FHM, Maxim, and Loaded many times. She has also appeared in fitness magazines, including Shape and Personal Trainer. McAndrew has also released many very popular calendars. McAndrew was also recognised as a Forces Sweetheart, having visited the UK Armed Forces at bases all over the world. McAndrew has also had a successful television career, as a presenter on Racing Rivals, Born to Fight, It's a Knockout and The Big Breakfast; she has also been a contestant on the reality TV show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, Celebrities under Pressure, and Family Fortunes.

In 1999, she served as co-host of the entertaining British game show, It's a Knockout. The hosting job lasted two seasons while ratings remained high. At the same time, McAndrew served as a VJ on VH1's Spice, continuing to beat down the stigma that Lara Croft models' careers go downhill once the gig is up. Even fashion companies, Triumph lingerie and Adidas both included her in ad campaigns, with the former signing her on as a spokeswoman. Even Jockey underwear took up business with her, but that went under the radar as her Play..boy cover in 1999 made headlines. She became the first British woman in over 30 years to get a cover spot on the popular men's publication. 

Ever the active woman, McAndrew flattered fellow celebrities as she became an entertainment reporter for The Big Breakfast, another British show. During this time, she graced the covers of Loaded and Front as well. With little rest after a grueling adventure Down Under, McAndrew toured around while promoting her new calendar and then settled down to film an exercise video, which was a project she had always wanted to do. Called Nell McAndrew's Peak Energy, the DVD has sold solidly since its UK release in late 2002. 

McAndrew released her first fitness video, “Peak Energy” in 2002, which became the number one best seller. It was followed up by “Maximum Impact” in December 2003 and “Ultimate Challenge, Ultimate Results” In December 2004. McAndrew has supported charities including Breast Cancer Awareness, Help The Aged, the British Heart Foundation, DebRA, Cancer Research UK, The Lymphoma Association and SSAFA

In 2003 she was voted the Yorkshire Woman of the Year. She has been a part of a number of PR campaigns for Yorkshire Water, including a digital version of herself in their Sewer Raider item on the company website.Running in the 2005 London Marathon, as a charity runner, McAndrew completed the event in a time that allowed her to start with the elite athletes in future events.

Running in the 2007 London Marathon, she completed the course in a slightly more sedate pace with her mother (after having recently given birth). Announced engagement to long-term partner Paul Hardcastle September 2004. She married husband Paul Hardcastle twice - first in November 2004 in Huddersfield, UK, and then again at a marriage blessing in December 2004 in Dubai. Gave birth to a baby boy called Devon on Thursday 24th August 2006 at 1.10 am.

McAndrew has taken part in an eye-catching training session for a charity race in which she wore little more than body paint. Launching the Cancer Research UK Race for Life 2008, the 34-year-old joined a group of other women in Londons Regent's Park, whose training outfits were painted on their bodies.