Callina Liang Lands a Behind-the-Blinds Cover as ‘Street Fighter’ Turns Her Into a Breakout Star

Few actors have had a year quite like Callina Liang’s. Cast as Chun-Li in Legendary’s live-action ‘Street Fighter’, she stepped into one of gaming’s most recognizable roles, with all the pressure that comes with it.

Now that the film is in theaters, the spotlight is turning to the person behind the iconic character. The Canadian actress, who had previously appeared in Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’, is quickly becoming a name fashion and film audiences both want to know.

On October 19, Cinethology shared that Liang covers the latest issue of Behind The Blinds magazine, with photography credited to Jason Renaud. The post showed 2 striking images and quickly drew a lot of attention.

The cover is shot in moody black and white, with Liang reclining against dark cushions in a satin slip dress, her long dark hair falling loose past her shoulders. A second image has a very different feel, with her hair pinned into a loose, tousled updo as she glances toward the camera, a dark oversized jacket draped off her shoulders over the same slip.

Callina Liang covers the latest issue of Behind The Blinds magazine. 📸: Jason Renaud https://t.co/HMoqDFjH3o

— Cinethology (@thecinethology) October 18, 2026

The pared-back, editorial look is a sharp contrast to the high-kicking action heroine audiences are watching on the big screen. It also marks a notable step for an actress whose profile has risen fast.

Behind The Blinds is a self-published biannual magazine covering contemporary aesthetics in fashion and the visual arts. It was launched by Brussels fashion designer Michael Marson and mixes newly commissioned editorials with archival contributions from an international collective of stylists, photographers, writers and artists.

Recent covers have featured actors including Connor Storrie, François Arnaud and Ruaridh Mollica, and its Summer/Fall 2026 issue included Stephen Kalyn as one of 2 cover stars. Liang joins that list at a moment when her name is firmly in the conversation.

Liang’s casting was announced in June 2025 by Deadline, and she joined a cast that includes Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, Jason Momoa, Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes. Kitao Sakurai directed the film, which opened in theaters on October 16.

FIGHT! Watch the Official Trailer for Street Fighter, hitting theaters everywhere October 16. https://t.co/dzGuLba4Z0

— Street Fighter Movie (@Street_Fighter) April 16, 2026

Chun-Li first appeared in ‘Street Fighter II’ in 1991 and is considered one of the first playable female fighters in a major fighting game. Liang, who is based in London and speaks both English and Mandarin, followed a famous line of actresses to play the role, including Ming-Na Wen and Kristin Kreuk.

Preparing for the part was no small task. According to Nintendo Life, Liang studied every version of the game, recording Chun-Li’s moves in slow motion so she could replay and break them down.

She then trained in taekwondo, Muay Thai and wushu for 2 hours a day, strengthened her legs and overhauled her diet, reportedly eating 12 eggs a day while bulking. By the end of the shoot, her thighs had grown 6.5 centimeters each. ‘Street Fighter’ has proven polarizing. Critics gave it a 42% score on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences were far kinder at 82%, and it earned a B- CinemaScore.

Even so, the film opened at No. 1 at the box office, with a projected $31 million domestic weekend that beat the opening of both earlier ‘Street Fighter’ movies combined. For Liang, the commercial win has come alongside a wave of attention, from set photos she shared online to press appearances and now a magazine cover.

Landing a fashion-forward cover this soon after her breakout role suggests Liang is being seen as more than a video game adaptation actress. Her versatility, spanning thrillers, action, and now editorial fashion, makes her one to watch. As the ‘Street Fighter’ conversation continues, her Behind The Blinds shoot offers a quieter, more intimate portrait of the actress at the center of it all.

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