Guy Pearce gets Priscilla wax figure

In the spirit of Sydney’s Mardi Gras, Madame Tussauds Sydney this week unveiled a wax figure of Australian actor Guy Pearce, clothed in full drag regalia.

Pearce’s wax figure is dressed as the unforgettable Felicia Jollygoodfellow from The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, in nothing but red, yellow and white feathers; the same outfit worn when Felicia, Bernadette and Mitzi reached the top of King’s Canyon.

“You know they always said it’s painful being waxed, well they’re right. Trying to hold a ‘Priscilla’ pose in my 40’s was far more difficult than in my 20’s,” Pearce said.

“I’m thrilled of course to be included in this new exhibition. As a kid I visited Madame Tussauds in London many times and to now be part of the international collection, particularly in such a masculine way, is truly an honour.”

Priscilla director Stephan Elliott was present at the figure’s unveiling.

“Guy had just finished his role on Neighbours when I cast him as Felicia. People thought it utter lunacy. Mike from Ramsey Street in drag? Are you kidding? [He] had the last laugh of course,” Elliott said.

“Felicia’s bus top opera became one of the most iconic images of Australian film. Only last week I saw a caricature of Prime Minister Gillard dressed as Felicia on top of Kevin Rudd’s bus. That’s parody 20 years on. It still astounds me.”

Madame Tussauds Sydney will open at Darling Harbour in May.

INFO: www.madametussauds.com/sydney