Callina Liang – Lightning Kick
Callina Liang is the new face for Chun-Li. The actress, who grew up playing the game, has previously appeared in Foundation and in Steven Soderbergh’s Presence. During her visit to London to present the film, we discussed her experience bringing the iconic character to life. Street Fighter arrives in cinemas on October 16 and she thinks it’s going be perfect.
Interview Fran J. Tejeda Photography JC Verona
Faux Fur Hat - Hat.n.spicy | Dress - David Koma | Crystalbralette - Nue Studio
Callina Liang is facing one of the biggest challenges of her still-young career: convincing several generations of gamers that she is capable of bringing Chun-Li, one of the most popular and recognisable characters in video game history, to life in the new film adaptation of Street Fighter. The Canadian actress is one of the leading stars of the movie, directed by Kitao Sakurai.
Although her role as Chun-Li represents her biggest international opportunity to date, Callina Liang already has several notable credits to her name. The actress made her television debut in 2022 with the British series Tell Me Everything and later appeared in Foundation, where she played the young Rue Corintha.
In 2024, two of her most important film roles to date arrived. Liang starred in Bad Genius and Presence, the film directed by Steven Soderbergh, in which she shared the screen with Lucy Liu, Chris Sullivan and Eddy Maday.
The actress has explained that she grew up playing Street Fighter and that she was especially excited when she found out she had been cast. Her portrayal of Chun-Li follows in the footsteps of Ming-Na Wen’s performance in the 1994 movie and Kristin Kreuk’s in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009).
Naturally, we discussed all of this during our conversation with her when she visited London to present the film, which will be released in cinemas on October 16.
“I think Street Fighter did that very well. It embraced the core of the game.”
Callina Liang
Chun-Li is considered the ‘First Lady of Fighting Games’. What kind of pressure and responsibility did you feel taking on such an iconic role?
Absolutely. I think when I first got the role, or when I first heard about the opportunity, I was very excited. And even when I first got the role, I was like, "Oh my God, is this a dream come true?"
And then it quickly kind of settled into my body where I was like, "Oh crap, I have to do justice to the game." I've played it all the way growing up, ever since I was a child, even now. And then I just thought about all the fans out there. Whatever I wanted to portray with the character, I wanted them to experience those emotions and hopefully make it even better than I would imagine. But I just think the way I thought about it was: give it your best. Have no regrets.
You know, I trained as hard as I could. I changed my diet as much as I could. And I was like, just be realistic with yourself. She looks a certain way as an animated character, in the comic books and the video games, but you're a human being. You still have to be able to move, you know?
I had the chance to meet Steven E. de Souza, who directed Street Fighter in the '90s, and he told me his movie was more comedic and it was a movie intended to star Van Damme. Did you take that movie or the 2009 version into account?
I think I definitely wanted to bring my own personal take on the character for this movie. But definitely still honouring her storyline and everything we know about her from the video games and the anime, the animated movie, Street Fighter, which I love very much.
I was really excited. I didn't try to throw on any of the previous live-action movies. The '94 film is one that I think a lot of people kind of agree was very good in its own way. But most of all, we're taking this from a new perspective, something fresh, something different from all the older films that were done on Street Fighter.
In recent years, we've started to see some really good video game adaptations, like Mortal Kombat, Silent Hill, Resident Evil... Do you think Street Fighter confirms that we're entering a golden age for live-action video game adaptations?
I think so, but I can only speak on behalf of Street Fighter. And, you know, I'm a video gamer myself. I'm a PC gamer at home, I have a PS5. Most of my free time, if I have free time, I'm spending it playing video games.
I watched Resident Evil recently and I was very happy as a gamer. I think Street Fighter did that very well. It embraced the core of the game.
So that's why Resident Evil really hit well, because they just stayed true to what it was. We leaned into the crazy, candy-retro world of it without making fun of it. And I think that's exactly what you would need to bring Street Fighter to life.
“When I first got the role, I was like, ‘Oh my God, is this a dream come true?’”
Callina Liang
You've been a fan since you were 12. So you know the character. But what about training to move like the character? All the martial arts and everything?
It was very intense. I trained a lot of hours every single day. For about a month before we went into pre-production and during production, two hours in the morning and an hour in the afternoon, so it was just nonstop.
And kicks are hard to make them look like you've been doing them your whole life. It's easier for the audience to believe that you've been a boxer, but kicks are harder.
I genuinely loved it. Even now I'm keeping up with training. I train at least two times a week, and now it's just become a form of therapy for me. And especially for Chun-Li, I was fighting for five hours, just with a bunch of other guys, and she's kicking them in the face, you know? So that was really fun.
After studying so many of her moves, which one can you perform best now by yourself, and which one would you never want to do again?
The one I can do myself pretty well is her Lightning Kick. I can balance on one leg, and kick in a row. That's pretty cool.
I love all her moves so much. But maybe the one where I'm holding my kick up and shaking Rayna, who plays Juli, in the film. When I'm shaking her out, I was just getting leg cramps because I had to hold my leg for a long time.
Hat - Hot.n.spicy | Tshirt - Sunspell | Socks (miscellaneous) | Pant (miscellaneous) | Heels - Amina Muaddi
“The one that I can do myself pretty well is her Lightning Kick.”
Callina Liang
Dress - David Koma | Crystalbralette - Nue Studio | Heels - Amina Muaddi | Socks (miscellaneous)
You've worked with someone who has been in some very big movies, like Megan Hui, your stunt double. What was it like working with her?
Oh my gosh, she is so unbelievably talented. From the first day we met, we really clicked.
I have to give her the credit. The spinning back kick, Chun-Li's most classic move? Megan was the only stunt performer who was able to do that, and she started training for that move six months before pre-production.
What about your partners, the rest of the cast? Was there ever a moment on set when you looked around and thought, "What is everyone doing in the same movie?"
Oh my gosh, it was like that every day. I think every time I stood next to 50 Cent, I was like, "How did I end up here?" I'm a big fan, it was awesome.
I think everybody was, in a certain way, their character, which made everything even funnier. Like Olivier (Olivier Richters, Zangief) from Amsterdam, he is literally a giant. I think he's, like, six foot... I don't even know. He's huge.
And Cody Rhodes, and obviously the wrestlers, and 50 Cent smoking their cigars... They would tell us all about the wrestling world. And Andrew Schulz, who's an amazing stand-up comedian and now I listen to his stuff and I'm like, "I'm going to his show."
Honestly, it was awesome. It was like a social dream. Me, Andrew and Cody obviously became like best friends because we spent so much time together. Now they're like my brothers.
There was never a dull moment on set. There was never a dull moment on the weekends. 50 Cent rented out an entire amusement park for the whole Street Fighter cast and crew, and we were going on the rides over and over again. There was always something going on.
Top - Archive Katie Eary | Heels -Amina Muaddi
“It’s basically her grieving the death of her father. That’s what’s driving her in this one.”
Callina Liang
Dress - Alessandra Rich | Heels -Ottolinger | Sunglasses - Balenciaga | Belt - House of Harlot.
“50 Cent rented out an entire amusement park for the whole Street Fighter cast and crew.”
Callina Liang
Top (faux fur - stylists own) | Skirt Me+Em | Heels - Archive Prada, Sunglasses | Archive Chanel.
While making the movie, did you discover more about Chun-Li? Do you think people are going to know her story and her motivations better after watching the movie?
Yeah, I think a lot of it is in the movie. It's basically her grieving the death of her father. That's what's driving her in this one. I don't want to spoil too much. We stick very close to what's been written. We use the lore of it all and everything with Bison.
What would you say to someone who has never played Street Fighter? What's the best way to convince them to see the movie?
Go to watch it because it's a good time. You want to see all these people on the screen fighting, and you'll be laughing again. It's a fun time.
It's the best way to spend the weekend. It's crazy. Like the video game, perfect.
And I have to say that I love Presence, your previous movie. It's a very emotional and intense film. For the people that know you from that. How would you describe Street?
For emotional relief after that heavy movie, go watch Street Fighter. If you feel sad after you watch Presence. Go watch Street Fighter. That'll do it for you.
David Dastmalchian plays Bison. What was it like filming with him?
I feel most of my conversations with David were us digging into our relationship. What we want from each other, you know? Chun-Li and Bison's relationship.
We talked a lot about the lore and how we're going to bring that on screen. What can we draw from our own lives? We spent hours on the weekends just diving into what makes Bison, what makes Chun-Li Chun-Li, what do they want from each other?
I think we had so much fun on set. We played with so many different types of emotions, and there's always layers to our conversations.
I hope to see you in the next Street Fighter film, because I think there will be more.
Thank you!
Team credits
Interview Fran J. Tejeda
Photography JC Verona
Styling Katie Eary
Hair Sharon Robinson
Make Up Oona Michel
Nails Jada Ellize
Publicist Dane Punch
Location The Rookery Hotel
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