From Arcade to the Big Screen: Callina Liang on Her Full-Circle Moment as Chun-Li in ‘Street Fighter’

One of the most fulfilling experiences for an actor is getting the chance to become part of something they once admired growing up.

For Canadian actress Callina Liang, that dream has come full circle as she brings one of her childhood gaming favorites to life in the now-showing Street Fighter film.

Growing up in Beijing, China, Callina fondly remembered how Street Fighter became a significant part of her childhood, particularly during a time when arcades were a popular hangout. After school and ballet practice, her grandmother would take her to an arcade, where she would spend time playing the iconic fighting game.

“I’m a huge gamer, so I still game to this day. Back then, I remember that every time I played, I played as Chun-Li because I was like, ‘Okay! She’s also a Chinese girl and she has these kick-ass moves!” she added.

Years later, Callina is set to portray her childhood favorite, Chun-Li, in the third live-action feature film based on Capcom’s Street Fighter video game franchise. The film is now showing in Philippine cinemas nationwide.

Given her personal connection to the game, landing the role has been a surreal experience for the actress. Callina expressed her genuine honor at the opportunity to bring the beloved character to life on the big screen.

Making the experience even sweeter, Callina had to go through the audition process to land the role of Chun-Li, submitting an audition tape for consideration. When director Kitao Sakurai eventually called to tell her that she had been cast, the actress recalled how the news instantly turned the day into the best one of her life.

Callina vividly remembers being caught off guard by Sakurai’s call, as casting updates would typically come through her agent. However, having grown close to the director throughout the audition process, she was comfortable enough to answer his call casually.

“Throughout the audition process we’d become pretty good friends because he’s a really chillax dude. So, he called, and I picked up. He said, ‘Hey, it’s Kitao.’ I was like, ‘I know! I have your contact saved, you know! What’s up?’ And literally all he said was, ‘You’re in.’

The news sent Callina into a frenzy of excitement, with the actress screaming and jumping up and down in disbelief. She recalled how she was alone at the time, making her reaction quite a sight for those around her.

And she went crazy after the director uttered those words, and she eventually started screaming and jumping up and down. “I was by myself, so I looked like an absolute lunatic. I remember everyone in the park was really concerned about me until I gave them all a big thumbs up and shouted, ‘All good, all good!’ And then I called my agents, so I could tell them for once.”

Meanwhile, seeing herself in Chun-Li’s iconic costume was another surreal moment for Callina. Costume designer Kym Barrett went to great lengths to bring the character’s signature look to life, even sourcing a special fabric that was transported from another city in Australia.

Kym also made it a priority to ensure that Callina felt comfortable and confident in the outfit while performing the physically demanding fight sequences. As the acclaimed costume designer told the actress, “‘I want to make sure you feel comfortable. I want to make sure you feel empowered, and that you’re also able to move and fight.”

Although Callina admitted she did not fully understand the intricate construction of the costume, seeing the finished look left her in disbelief.

Her reaction was, “‘Dude, there’s no way… What do you mean that’s me?’ And then I walked out onto set. It was surreal,” she recalled, describing the feeling of finally wearing the costume of the video game character she had admired since childhood.

Although they shared the same room for their preparations and training routines, Canadian actress Callina Liang noticed a friendly rivalry between her co-stars Noah Centineo and Andrew Koji, who play Ken and Ryu, respectively.

While Callina concentrated on leg training, the two male leads focused on building their arms. Their shared preparation sessions became an opportunity to bond, with the trio often enjoying meals together afterward. Callina was also grateful that filming took place in Australia, where they could enjoy the great food, beaches, and cliffs during their downtime.

“Every day after we finished training, we were all like, ‘Right, sauna!’ And in the sauna, Noah and Andrew would still be fighting. Play fighting. They were having fun, but sometimes I had to say, ‘You guys need to calm down.’ I literally sometimes felt like I was their older sister, which is funny because I’m younger than both of them,” she recalled, laughing.

Spending so much time together also allowed Callina to see the similarities between Noah and Andrew’s real-life personalities and the characters they portray onscreen. According to the actress, their natural dynamic closely mirrors the relationship between Ken and Ryu.

Recalling their playful exchanges in the sauna, Callina said, “‘God damn, you guys are basically your characters in real life!’ Noah is super goofy. He’s having a great time. He loves cracking a joke, and he brings out that fun side in Andrew. When I first met Andrew, I was like, ‘Okay, wow, this is a very serious guy.’ But after a while, he opens up—and he’s also a very funny guy.”

Bringing Chun-Li to life in the 2026 film came with its own set of challenges, particularly given the character’s long history across previous live-action adaptations, animated projects, and video games. With so many interpretations already out there, the question was how this latest version could offer something fresh while staying true to the beloved character.

For Callina and director Kitao Sakurai, the goal was to remain faithful to Chun-Li’s storyline while exploring new sides of the character that audiences may not have seen in previous video games or animated adaptations.

When it came to preparing for the role, Callina revealed that she deliberately avoided watching previous portrayals of Chun-Li to ensure that her performance would be her own. Instead, she focused on the source material, immersing herself in the animated projects, video games, and comics.

“I didn’t want anything anyone else had done to get into my head. All I watched were the animations and the video games. And I read all the comics.”

For those still looking for reasons to catch Street Fighter in cinemas, Callina also shared one of her favorite aspects of portraying the iconic fighter: recreating Chun-Li’s signature moves, particularly the Spinning Bird Kick.

Although executing the move and landing safely afterward was no easy feat, Callina found the experience rewarding, describing the feeling of successfully pulling it off as therapeutic.

“It would be that or her Lightning Kicks. They were probably my favorite to recreate on set. There was a scene where I’m just, like, nailing someone to the wall with Lightning Kicks. I had to just keep going and going and going. And that was such fun,” she said.

Ultimately, portraying her childhood gaming favorite was more than just a dream come true for Callina. The actress also hopes that fans of Street Fighter will recognize the passion that went into making the film and enjoy watching it as much as the cast enjoyed bringing it to life. After all, as Callina shared, the entire experience was an incredibly fun ride.