Australian actress Michelle Van Der Water is about to become known to millions of video game players.
The 30-year-old has scored an unique role as the heroine in the fifth instalment of hit video game Resident Evil 5, which will be released in October.

Makers of the horror game, set in Africa, have used Van Der Water as the model for Sheva Alomar, an agent who handles firearms and is involved in hand-to-hand combat. Alomar is also the partner of the main character.

For the part, Van Der Water had to be photographed dressed up in outfits with guns and firearms.

The digitised end product looks very much like her, she said.

"It was very exciting... I was pretty pleased," Van Der Water said from Los Angeles today. "It came out really well."