Horribly Inaccurate Madame Tussauds Models
Wax figures have been around since the Ancient Egyptians, but the infamous Madame Tussauds models can be traced back to 1835. With nearly two centuries to perfect technique, craftsmanship, and artistic likeness, you’d think that the more recent figures would be roughly lifelike.
Sadly, you’d be wrong. The wax figure makers seem to have a bad habit of making every celebrity whiter, weirder, and more akin to a dead-eyed soulless monster. No, this isn’t an exaggeration. Take a look at these awfully inaccurate Madame Tussauds figures.
Jim Carrey
Starting things off is a wax figure of Jim Carrey’s character from The Cable Guy. Sure, the movie had its fair share of dark, horror-filled moments, but this wax recreation of Chip Douglas is 100 percent more terrifying than anything from the film.
Carrey’s early career was built on his ability to pull outrageous faces, but it’s doubtful that he was ever able to shift the bones in his face and develop swathes of extra skin to produce this expression. With any luck, this figure won’t haunt your dreams at night.
Michael Jackson
Where to start? Though there have been many awkward — and frightening x0151 wax figures of the King of Pop over the last few decades, this one might take the cake for the worst. Not only is the face particularly hideous, but the entire body is just strange and off-putting.
One cannot help but imagine a soprano opera singer’s voice emanating from this statue. These artists may have gotten Jackon’s outfit reasonably right, but they failed in every other aspect. From the hair to the stare, this is bad and you know it.
Justin Bieber
Madame Tussauds immortalized Justin Bieber in wax in 2011 and then again in 2016. His teeny-bopper look changed a lot as he reached adulthood, and both the London and Las Vegas locations now feature an updated, shirtless Bieber.
Both the clothed and slightly-unclothed versions are pretty unsettling. The facial dimensions are pretty good (except for a too-tall forehead), but the dead eyes and weirdly placed wrinkles and patches of fat make the figure creepier than it ever needed to be. Which is to say, it shouldn’t have been creepy at all!
Taylor Swift
Looking more like a life-sized plastic Barbie doll than the popular young pop star, this wax figure was supposed to be Taylor Swift. While some aspects are pretty spot-on, the trouble with trying to sculpt a perfect likeness of someone is that a single degree of error can result in something that looks completely wrong.
Still, this model is an improvement on the 2010 version, which looked even more like a gigantic, soulless doll than this one. Overall, maybe Tussauds should quit while they’re ahead when it comes to recreating Taylor Swift.
Jennifer Garner
The now infamous Jennifer Garner wax figure is one of the best examples of how badly things can really go when trying to make a new figure. In a way, it kind of looks like Tim Burton’s version of Garner. It has roots in reality, but it also has some unexpected and unreal twists and bends.
For example, while you may assume that the creators would want the skin be the same color throughout, you’d be wrong. The face and neck are bright orange, contrasting completely with the pale color of the arms and hands. It’s a mess.
Robert Pattinson
Whether or not you’re a fan of the Twilight series or Robert Pattinson in general, chances are, you could have made a better likeness of the guy than the Tussauds artists did. This Pattinson kind of looks like the love child of Conan O’Brien and Josh Hartnett.
The angles are all off with this face, starting with the jaw shape and width and ending pretty much anywhere you’d like. The whole thing is a bizarre disaster of proportions gone awry. What a shame for fans and visitors hoping to get a selfie with the star!
Miley Cyrus
While this figure might not be the worst likeness of Cyrus — looking at you, Gold Coast — it’s not a great representation of her. The hair is pretty good, but the longer you look at this figure, the more empty you feel. It’s almost as if the dead eyes staring back at you are absorbing your life force.
It seems that these artists struggle to create figures with genuine smiles. During a real smile, the eyes crinkle, even if just a little bit. These eyes are slightly too open and too piercing to match the grin, resulting in strange leer.
Nicki Minaj
Wow. They really messed up with this one, didn’t they? That question may be understated. Several tasteless visitors have attempted to take a few selfies of themselves having sex with this Nicki Minaj statue. The problem got so bad that Tussauds had to remove the figure for “repairs.” Yeah, gross.
It’s a complete mystery as to how any of the Tussauds employees could have allowed this figure to exist. It’s more than a bit sexist, it’s a little derogatory and for goodness sake, random guests were trying to boink the hunk of wax.
Justin Timberlake
Ever look at a Tussauds wax figure and wonder if the artists were halfway through making someone else before they got the call to switch? This rendition of Justin Timberlake sure looks like it started off life as Brad Pitt. The “skeletal” part of the face is purely Pitt, but the angles are fitted for Timberlake.
It’s almost like the artists wanted to show the world what it would look like if two of the most beloved and handsome celebrities were able to make a baby. If that’s the case, then props. If not, then this figure sucks.
Nicole Kidman
This figure looks like someone having fun in Photoshop. It’s like they copied the face, removed it and then added it back at about half its normal size. Either that or they just embiggened the forehead to an excessive degree. It’s a remarkable show of skin. Forehead skin.
The shape of the head is also fairly confusing because it gives wax-Kidman this convex bulge in the middle of her face. Sometimes you wonder who gave a wax figure the A-OK for release. This is definitely one of those times.
Mel Gibson
At one point in the past, Mel Gibson was considered the bee’s knees. This wax figure comes to us from that time. The face seems to be concealing a deep, eruptive rage. It almost looks sarcastic. The bared-teeth smile and eerily bright blue eyes are more predatory than friendly.
Again, this can partially be blamed on the wideness of the eyes and their incongruity with the big ol’ grin on Gibson’s face. Perhaps this statue is actually intended to capture the mania of Gibson’s later years, or maybe it started off life as a Nicholas Cage model. That would at least explain the barely concealed insanity.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez probably wasn’t too pleased with the original Tussauds version of herself, which is entirely understandable. The face, while similar, was off by a few inches in terms of length and had jagged cheekbone lines that don’t exist on the real Selena’s face.
They removed a lot of the roundness from her cheeks as well. Overall, they kind of turned her into a pretty nobody. She looks quite a lot like Gomez, but it’s apparent that she’s not, making this a wax figure of a nameless-yet-gorgeous young woman. Cool?
Adam Sandler
You know, credit where credit’s due: the creators of this Adam Sandler figure did a fantastic job on the hands and arms. Now that that’s over with — wow, this is hideous. It almost looks like a living person wearing a plasticized Sandler mask. It’s every trick-or-treater’s nightmare.
And yeah sure, Sandler pulls a lot of funny mugs in his movies. But what is this face? If you let your eyes unfocus and stare at this figure, it still looks bizarre. The outline is fantastic, but that face is unforgettably bad.
Oprah Winfrey
Not sure who this is, but it’s definitely not Oprah Winfrey. Now, it’s a passable example of someone trying to imitate Oprah, but that’s about as far as things go. The eyes are awkwardly offset by a small but noticeable degree, and the lower face is a bit of a mess.
If you cut out magazine clippings of Oprah and pieced them together, you might end up with something that looks like this wax figure. Your friends and family might also begin to worry about you, however, because making a hideous Oprah collage is kind of an odd thing to do.
Chris Hemsworth
Chris Hemsworth wasn’t thrilled when Tussauds released this Thor figure. He probably felt that the thing looked nothing like him. It might be the blonde bob-cut hair, the patchy beard or the outward-angled ears — whatever the problem, the final model doesn’t work.
The mean-mugging Thor looks like he’s about to spit on someone, which is equal parts hilarious and extremely troubling. No matter how frustrated or angry film-Thor looks, he never pulls a face this spiteful. Even the real Hemsworth’s dubious expression of disapproval is friendlier than this.
Angelina Jolie
Oh, wow. Just when you thought you’d seen the worst wax likenesses in the world, Lara Croft pops up out of nowhere to prove you wrong. If you’re thinking that the artists who made this were trying to translate the video game version of Croft into a lifelike statue, you’re mistaken.
This is supposed to be Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft. Why she has broken arms, powdery hands, and an extraterrestrial’s face is unknown. Truly, it is difficult to understand how any team of artists could fail this hard.
Will Smith
Tussauds has released quite a few Will Smith figures over the last decade, but they all seem to be completely identical. That means there are about a dozen waxen Will Smiths sitting around the world in this state of frozen apathy at any given time. It’s kind of depressing.
The expression sculpted onto this famous statue is painful to put into words. It certainly isn’t the face of a man who feels very comfortable or very happy. It’s not a stretch to say that this figure seems resigned to its hellish existence of endless touristic entertainment.
Lucille Ball
Here’s the thing about this Lucille Ball figure: It’s ugly. What reference material were they using to fill in the gaps of facial information, a pin-up calendar from 1952? The facial features feel misplaced, as if they were based off a drawing rather than the real Lucille.
If so, then this figure makes way more sense. To make such a poor likeness of someone who has been immortalized by television, decade after decade, is just sad. Nearly everyone still remembers how she looked in I Love Lucy, and it wasn’t like this.
George Clooney
This figure got so close to actually looking like Clooney, and then it took a completely opposite turn. The hair is okay but not great, the suit and watch are fantastic, the arms and hands are pretty good. But that face. That awful, slightly malformed face is unbearable.
It’s still an attractive and lifelike figure, sure. But it doesn’t look like George Clooney, making this tiny exhibit only useful if you’ve ever wanted a selfie with an attractive and motionless stranger. You could even show it to people and say, “Hey, I met someone who kind of looks like Geroge Clooney!”
Elvis Presley
Tussauds has released some amazingly realistic Elvis Presley figures. This one however, seems like a mistake that they couldn’t afford to throw away. The medium skin tone does not go with the glare of the lighting, making the King look like a nervous, toothy, sweaty mess.
His expression is also reminiscent of someone who has been caught doing something they shouldn’t and is now attempting to charm their way out of it. Maybe this figure is trying to convince visitors that it’s a legitimate Elvis Presley figure and not the mistake that it really is.
Mark Zuckerberg
If you’re part of the small percentage of the population that ever wondered what Mark Zuckerberg would look like if he were possessed by a nine-year-old boy, here you go! Enjoy. For everyone else, let’s talk about how unsettling this Zuckerberg wax representation is.
Now, the creator of Facebook isn’t the most traditionally attractive guy. But when you elongate his face, enlarge his forehead, and make his eyes smaller and beadier, you end up with something that looks more like a middle-aged mom than the man himself. And what’s up with that slightly prodding tongue? Ugh.
Ryan Gosling
If Ryan Gosling suffered from a retreating hairline and underwent extreme facial surgery, he might look a little bit like this wax figure. Gosling could also become more like his wax double by losing his soul. It’s not recommended that he do any of this, of course, it’s just a possible plan of action.
Then again, why would anyone want to look like this figure? The face is too thin, the nose is too long and it’s evident to everyone that this isn’t the real Gosling. Overall, this is a lousy attempt at capturing Gosling’s charm and look.
Channing Tatum
Whenever you’ve finished laughing at this hideous Tussauds version of Channing Tatum, feel free to continue reading. While it may seem unbelievable that anyone would release this to the public, you’ve seen enough by now to know that some of these wax artists have abysmal judgment.
This model is far too skinny. Just look at those shoulders! Maybe it was initially supposed to be a figure of a woman, which would make this effeminate Tatum even funnier to behold. After all, the actor is known for being super buff and athletic. What were they thinking when they made this?
Britney Spears
Britney Spears has been a sex icon for decades. As such, it should come as no surprise that her wax figure would be dressed a little scandalously. Still, this version of the pop star looks more like an expensive sex doll than a respectful tribute.
She’s pole dancing, which lends itself to some risque selfie opportunities. Her thrown-back hair and head are creepy, however, and her expression is void of emotion. She might as well be a nameless doll. That’s how fake and unnerving this figure is. Gross.
Ben Affleck
No matter how bad some wax figures are, most of the time, you can at least accurately guess who the person is supposed to be. This figure is so warped and poorly made that it’s unrecognizable. That’s saying something. Even the hideous Lara Croft statue is obviously supposed to be Lara Croft.
This looks like an Arnold Schwarzenegger figure that didn’t make the cut and was haphazardly transitioned into an Affleck figure. But oh my god, everything about this is wrong. The face, the hair, the body, the clothing, everything. Come on, Tussauds!
Brad Pitt
When you think of Brad Pitt, you surely think about a fountain of blonde Farrah Fawcett hair, glaring eyes, and body sweat, right? Sure, maybe you think about body sweat while having some fun daydreams involving Pitt, but is he this shiny in your imagination? Hopefully not.
While this figure is from the 1990s, and Pitt did rock a very different set of looks during that decade, the likeness is just not convincing. The facial hair is weirdly patchy and poorly placed, and that glare gives off more of a sleazy vibe than a sexy one.
John Travolta
This wax John Travolta is one of the saddest wax versions of him ever made. It’s an attempt at showing Travolta as a younger man, but it goes a little too far in terms of artistic translation. There’s an entire 111-minute long movie showing Travolta as Danny Zuko. That’s plenty of reference material to work from.
Why does this Travolta look completely different from his real life visage? Wax Travolta has a bad case of teenage acne or eczema and seems to pluck or wax his eyebrows. He also looks quite a few pounds lighter than the one from Grease.
Denzel Washington
Don’t worry too much if you’re having trouble placing this one. Just as with the Affleck figure, this one is so bad that it’s not readily apparent which celebrity it’s supposed to represent.
Now, if Denzel Washington never aged past seventeen or grew facial hair, this figure wouldn’t be so bad. However, we all know that Denzel developed some wrinkles and some signs of aging, in addition to being able to grow an incredible beard. What’s up with this version?
Beyoncé
Oh my goodness, it seemed like the entire world threw a fit when Tussauds revealed this version of Beyoncé in 2017. It’s not hard to imagine why, as this figure looks like a random mishmash of throwaway model parts, wigs and clothing. It’s a pretty disrespectful way to represent the beloved artist.
Visitors to the New York location were unafraid of voicing their opinion about this ludicrous and light-skinned version of Beyoncé, leading to the figure’s temporary removal and permanent update. Still, it really makes us wonder who is performing quality checks for these things before releasing them.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande may be the most vocal celebrity when it comes to her feelings about her wax replica. After Tussauds released their version of the pop singer in 2019, both fans and the artist were upset with what they saw. Some actually admitted to feeling personally offended by the wax Grande.
Like many wax figures, this one suffers from the wrong color skin in addition to some questionable facial dimensions. It’s not the worst likeness of a celebrity, but it’s also not close. Fans hoping to snap a selfie with “Ariana” were immensely disappointed to discover the figure’s flaws.
