Homegrown film director Jack Neo receives own wax figurine at Madame Tussauds Singapore

SINGAPORE - Homegrown film director Jack Neo has met his doppelgänger, albeit in the form of a wax figure at Madame Tussauds Singapore.

Neo joins the likes of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, MediaCorp actress Zoe Tay as well as Hollywood star Tom Cruise to be among those featured in the local attraction that was opened to the public on Oct 25.

On hand for his wax figure's unveiling, Neo had commented that it looks like him and is "so real".

After a decade of comedic hosting and acting in the local MediaCorp variety show, Comedy Night, Neo entered the film industry in 1998 with the now-classic comedy, Money No Enough.

To date, the film is Singapore's second highest-growing film.

The multi-hyphenate also helms J Team Productions, through which he has scripted, directed and produced many other movies. These include 2002's I Not Stupid, Homerun (2003), The Best Bet (2004) and many more.

His film, Ah Boys To Men, which premiered in 2012, remains as Singapore's highest-grossing feature film.

In honour of his contributions to the local media industry, Neo was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 and Multi-Talent Award in 2004 from MediaCorp Singapore during the annual Star Awards.

He was also a recipient of the Public Service Medal Award in 2004 as well as the Arts Cultural Medallion Award in 2005.

Lily Lim, general manager of Madame Tussauds Singapore said: "At Madame Tussauds, we want to celebrate both international as well as local icons who have made a positive impact. Jack Neo is a household name and a multi-award winning film director from Singapore who has shaped the local media industry. We are delighted to feature him in our attraction!"

ssandrea@sph.com.sg