Winston Smith

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Winston Smith

Winston Smith is Lara Croft's loyal butler, first seen in Tomb Raider II, then reappearing in Tomb Raider III, Tomb Raider Chronicles, Tomb Raider Legend and Tomb Raider Anniversary. He also plays a role in Nightmare in Vegas, the bonus level of the Tomb Raider II add-on, The Golden Mask.

Current Statut : Alive

Winston in Tomb Raiders II and III

In Tomb Raiders II and III, Winston appears only in the Manor training levels. He is an old man, and spends his time following Lara around the house, while carrying a tea tray with a blue tea set on it. In Tomb Raider III, he also helps out Lara in target practice by wearing a suit with a bull's eye painted on it. He can be shot, but not killed. Winston in these games groans whenever Lara bumps into him, and occasionally farts. Players could even lead Winston into the manor's fridge and lock him inside.

The developers had nicknamed him Winston but this was not his official name until Tomb Raider Chronicles. Many fans referred to him as "Jeeves" at this time.

Winston in The Golden Mask

Winston appears in the bonus level of The Golden Mask, Nightmare in Vegas. He has apparently been kidnapped by mercenaries and locked in a bathroom of a Vegas hotel. At the beginning of this level, Lara's first task is to free him, which she does quickly. Winston then follows Lara around on the upper level of the hotel (still carrying his tea tray), and remains there when Lara visits other parts of the hotel. This is the only level in the series in which Winston appears outside the Manor.

Winston in Tomb Raider Chronicles

For the first time, Winston is named in-game, and plays an active role in the story. His character is expanded and made more respectable than the comic character he has been in the previous games.

In the opening FMV, Winston is seen at Lara's memorial site, which he leaves along with Father Patrick Dunstan in a car. They are joined by Charles Kane at the Manor, and the three reminisce about Lara and her past adventures. Winston appears in all the FMVs in between the 4 chapters of the game, and he narrates the VCI chapter, as well the probably the Rome chapter as well.

It is clear from this game that Winston is more than just a servant to Lara - she seems to have been very fond of him, and he of her. He also seems to have been her confidante, as he is aware of most of her escapades.

Winston in Tomb Raider Legend

In Tomb Raider Legend, Winston gets a makeover and a last name, Smith (so far, fans had assumed that Winston was his last name). He appears in both the cutscenes set in the Manor, in the latter of which he displays great fondness for Lara, showing that he is more of a father figure for her than a butler. He is also seen in the manor itself, standing by the fireplace. He remains static, and does not follow Lara around as he does in the early games. He doesn't move at all, except for breathing, blinking and occasionally doing something, like stretching out a little, or tying his bow tie.

Winston in Tomb Raider Anniversary

In Anniversary, Winston didn't have any cutscene roles, though Lara reads a note from him at the beginning of the Manor level. Winston in this game is basically just like the Legend Winston, except for the fact that he pops up in different places throughout the manor, though he is never seen moving.

Hillary (Film Version)

In Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, Winston is replaced with a much younger man named Hillary. During the attack on Croft Manor, Hillary takes it upon himself to defend Lara's artefact by shooting at the thieves with a shotgun. Hillary is also adamant about Lara being more "ladylike", and also acts as a sparring partner and assists Bryce, a technical assistant.