Lea Salonga's Madame Tussauds wax figure unveiled in Manila

Madame Tussauds on Friday unveiled Lea Salonga's wax figure in Manila.

The event was held at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Paranaque City. Afterwards, the wax figure will be transferred to Madame Tussauds Singapore.

Lea's wax figure wore a royal blue gown and smiled as it held a microphone and mic stand.

“This is how I normally look when I have a mic stand in front of me at concerts,” the theater icon said at the press event.

She added in a video presentation, “This figure is one that I tend to default to when I'm performing on stage and there's a mic stand in front of me, I tend to hold it. I like to hold it with both hands. It feels grounding, especially if it's a song that requires a lot of mental energy. It feels very secure to do that.”

Lea said that the blue dress was made by her favorite designer and longtime friend, Rajo Laurel.

It is one of her favorite looks, Lea added, and she has it in several colors, but the blue one is the one she likes the most. It features a corset and crepe fabric that when packed in a suitcase and brought out, would be ready to be used right before a performance.

"I chose this dress as I felt it best represented my personality and sensibilities when deciding what to wear for performances. This gown served me so well for so many shows, so it felt right for it to be continued to be seen on Madame Tussaud's wax likeness of me."

The wax figure will be the first of a Filipino artist at the Singapore museum and took six months in the making.

“The road leading up to today has been a very long one. There was a sitting in London while I was over there doing a show, and it was a Sunday. It was a very long Sunday well spent,” Lea said at the event. “So many measurements taken, so many discussions on what is this pose going to look like, what are we trying to achieve with this particular likeness.”

The singer and actress said she would receive progress photos she would also share with her family. “I would have a mini freak out because, because it's like, okay, this is--that's me,” Lea said with a laugh.

Lea showed the final progress photo to her daughter Nicole Chien who said, “Mom, I love the pose. I love the pose because it's not a static pose like for a photograph. It looks like you're about to do something. It looks like you're about to open your mouth and sing.”

Lea added, “So that's why it is the way that it is. And I'm glad that the kid caught it. I'm glad that Nick was able to figure that out. I have a smart kid, so it's all good.”

Not only that, a Filipino Madame Tussauds artist based in London was among those who worked on the figure.

“It’s Filipino pride all around because even the artist that handled the face is Filipino,” Lea said.

Elaine Quek, Head of Sales and Marketing at Madame Tussauds Singapore, said that they chose to make a wax figure of Lea because she is “a legendary icon,” with “undeniable talent, iconic roles, and most importantly, we listen to her loyal fans.”

"Our team of expert sculptors spent up to six months making the figure, paying meticulous attention to detail to ensure that this wax figure captures her spirit and charisma. Together with Lea, we have chosen a pose that exudes her magnetic presence on stage where her talent and personality shine through. We hope that through this figure, her legacy continues to inspire visitors globally."

Lea's fans can visit her figure starting September 20 at the Music Zone of Madame Tussauds Singapore, along with other international personalities such as Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and more.

The project was first announced in June. Lea joins fellow Filipino celebrities Manny Pacquiao, Pia Wurtzbach, and Catriona Gray who have also had their Madame Tussauds wax figures. Anne Curtis is also set to have her own.

Lea rose to stardom after starring in the musical “Miss Saigon” as the original Kim, a teenage Vietnamese girl who was orphaned and forced to work in the brothel Dreamland before the end of the Vietnam War. Lea was the first Filipino to win a Tony and Laurence Olivier Award for her role in the production.

In 2021, Lea joined the cast of “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.”

In 2023, she made her Broadway comeback in the musical “Here Lies Love” as Aurora Aquino, former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino’s mother. Lea starred in “Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends” in the West End that same year.

This October, Lea is playing the lead role in the wordless play, “Request sa Radyo.” She will alternate with Dolly De Leon.

In November, she will release her Christmas album, “Sounding Joy.” Lea is also bringing her Stage, Screen & Everything in Between tour to Manila that same month.

Aside from her work in theater, Lea is also famous for being the singing voice of Disney Princesses Jasmine from “Aladdin” and Mulan.

Lea Salonga’s wax figure by Madame Tussauds Singapore has now been unveiled! @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking#LEAgendaryMTSG #MadameTussaudsSG pic.twitter.com/rhQkUjGSBT

— Nika Roque (@rqNIKA) September 13, 2024

—JCB, GMA Integrated News