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EXPLORE
Discover all the secrets behind creating the wax characters at Grévin Montreal. Discover over 135 years of know-how and expertise from France and Quebec!
GRÉVIN MONTREAL UNVEILS ALL OF ITS SECRETS
Key figures
To create one wax figure
3 to 6 months of work
150 hours to model each face
5 L of wax per head
500 000 hairs per figure
The secrets to our work
Personal hairstylists to the stars participate in creating their wax characters. Whether for Dominique Michel, Marie-Mai, Stéphane Rousseau or Guylaine Tremblay, personal hairstylists team up with our specialists to create our wax celebrities as true to life as possible.
Grévin’s Expertise
Creating a lifelike character requires many skilled craftspeople. Here are the secrets to making a wax figure, from sculpting to wardrobe:
1 - Sculpture
Several sculptors work permanently for Grévin. The celebrities pose, while many measurements, photos, videos and 3D images are taken, and then their faces are modeled in clay. Their bodies are also modeled in clay. If a sculptor is unable to see the celebrity in person, they work from photographs.
2 - Moulding
Once the sculpture is completed, a plaster and elastomer mould is made. Wax is poured into this mould for the face and resin is used for the body. The hands and feet are moulded freely.
3 - Implants and Prosthetics
Hair is implanted one strand at a time. There are as many as 500,000 on the same head. The eyes are actual ocular prostheses, and often chosen by the celebrities themselves. The teeth are made by a professional prosthetist.
4 - Makeup
Oil paint is used as makeup on the wax components, with acrylic paint for the resin parts. This work is done in meticulous detail to ensure a perfect resemblance, including moles, freckles, wrinkles, dark circles and even scars.
5 - Wardrobe
Period clothing is fashioned in Grévin’s workshop according to historical documents. For current celebrities, very often their personal wardrobe artists offer one of their outfits to Grévin. When necessary, the clothing is made directly in our workshops.
6 - Accessories
The greatest attention is given to accessories, such as bags, hats, jewellery, weapons, etc. Some accessories even belonged to the celebrities. Others are meticulously crafted in the workshops.
7 - Restoration
Everything is done before opening to the public. The hairdresser fixes Celine Dion’s hair, the painter retouches Cameron Diaz’s hands after the previous day’s visitors, the moulding workshop remakes an ear that was tugged on, and the costume designer replaces Stéphane Rousseau’s outfit which was accidentally torn. Everything must be perfect before the public arrives!
The Art of fun!
Grévin Montréal
Montreal Eaton Centre, Second floor
705 Sainte-Catherine Street West
office 5-104 | H3B 4G5
Montréal, Québec (Canada)
Need help?
Tel: 514-788-5211
Mon. to Sat., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun., from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m