Madame Tussauds opens Sydney attraction

The new Madame Tussauds Sydney attraction has opened with waxwork effigies of Australian personalities Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman sharing the stage with Barack Obama and Lady Gaga.

The Merlin Entertainments Group attraction is located alongside Wild Life Sydney and the Sydney Aquarium in the city's Darling Harbour attractions and retail precinct.

Introducing the attraction General Manager Hywel Mathais stated "Madame Tussauds is synonymous with history, heritage and fine artistry and we're so excited that we can finally welcome such an iconic attraction to Sydney."

Mathais explained that it takes 60 artists about 800 hours to create a single figure, adding "I've got a dedicated team who literally spend all the time re-touching, making it perfect, keeping it 100% right."

Other waxworks featured at Madame Tussauds Sydney include Hollywood A-listers Leonardo DiCaprio and Angelina Jolie, TV host Oprah Winfrey, Queen Elizabeth II as well as iconic Australians Elle Macpherson and Paul Hogan and sporting stars Sir Don Bradman and Mark Webber.

Madame Tussauds first opened its doors more than 200 years ago in London and has since expanded across the globe.

Image: Paul Hogan's waxwork effigy at the new Madame Tussauds Sydney.

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