Callina Liang, set to portray Chun-Li in the upcoming Street Fighter movie, has spoken about the significant pressure she felt following fan reactions to her casting, particularly noting discussions on Reddit. In an interview with Project Big Screen, Liang shared that she encountered a Reddit thread questioning her physique in comparison to the iconic character.
"There was this Reddit thread: ‘Callina Liang’s thighs are nowhere as big as Chun-Li’s,’" she recounted, laughing. Liang acknowledged the fans' perspective, stating that as a fan herself, she understood the desire for the actor to embody her perceived ideal form from the video games and anime. However, with only two months to prepare for the role, she focused on a realistic approach to her physical transformation.
"I did feel a lot of pressure. I was like, ‘Right, I gotta get my s**t together.’ My motto the whole time was just, ‘No regrets. Give it your all. It doesn’t matter how big you can physically get,’" Liang explained. She emphasized the need for realism, balancing her fitness goals with the ability to perform as an actor. "I had to be realistic with myself. I had to be a functioning human being who could act on screen at the end of the day," she added.
Liang's dedication to the role involved intense training and a strict diet. She revealed that she consumed a dozen eggs daily and ate meals every two hours to meet her calorie goals for muscle growth. This regimen led to significant physical changes, with her thighs reportedly growing six-and-a-half centimeters each. Her efforts were so pronounced that her stunt double even required butt pads to match Liang's physique on screen.
Her training regimen included two hours of daily martial arts practice, incorporating Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and Wushu. "When I was bulking, I ate 12 eggs a day. Every two hours I had to have a meal, and I was on the verge of throwing up. But it worked," she told Empire Magazine. The Street Fighter movie is scheduled for release on October 16.