Idris Elba has joined a very exclusive club — celebrities whose wax figures are realistic enough to fool biometric security.
The British actor and global superstar was left visibly amused after discovering that his newly unveiled wax figure at Madame Tussauds London successfully unlocked his mobile phone using Face ID, a moment that quickly went viral online.
Standing beside his wax likeness, Elba held his phone up to the statue and watched as the device unlocked without hesitation. “I don’t know what to say, I’m speechless,” he remarked, calling the moment “surreal”.
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A Family Seal of Approval
Elba took the test one step further by FaceTiming his mother, Eve Elba, directly from the museum to show her the figure. Her reaction mirrored his own surprise, with the resemblance proving convincing even to someone who knows his face better than most.
Fans online were equally impressed, praising the craftsmanship and attention to detail that captured Elba’s features with striking accuracy.
A Notable Shift for Madame Tussauds
The reaction marks a significant moment for Madame Tussauds, which has faced repeated criticism over the years for wax figures of Black celebrities that were widely regarded as inaccurate or poorly executed.
High-profile controversies include a 2017 Beyoncé figure that drew backlash for appearing lighter-skinned and was later removed, as well as earlier criticism over statues of Rihanna and Zendaya. Those incidents sparked broader conversations about colourism, representation and the responsibility of cultural institutions to portray Black public figures accurately.
Against that backdrop, Elba’s wax figure has been widely welcomed as a corrective — a rare example of the museum getting it right.
More Than Just a Likeness
Wax figures are more than novelty attractions. They serve as cultural symbols, freezing public figures in time and placing them within a shared historical narrative. When those representations miss the mark, critics argue, the impact goes beyond art and into issues of identity and respect.
Elba’s figure, by contrast, has been described as a “win” — not only for its technical achievement but for what it signals about progress in representation.
Elba Reacts
In an official statement, Elba said he was honoured by the unveiling.
“It’s truly an honour to be recognised in this way, and even more special to know this other version of me will be standing tall in London,” he said. “So even when I’m away, a part of me is always at home.”
For once, Madame Tussauds has delivered a wax figure that does not need defending — and in Elba’s case, it may even be secure enough to pass for the real thing.
