Callina Liang: "There is still a lot of room for progress"

Callina Liang is giving a whole new meaning to global stardom. 

Born in Canada, Liang moved to Australia and Singapore and now resides between Toronto and London. Unsurprisingly her life has engendered a love of languages, with Liang hoping to one day use Mandarin a project.  

"Something about Chinese culture," she tells us. "I would really enjoy and appreciate that, and I'm sure my family would too." 

For now, you can catch her on the zeitgeist-y ITVX show Tell Me Everything which showcases a host of young stars. 

"It was my first TV role, so it is definitely something I will remember for the rest of my career," says Liang. "The show has such great variety, so I couldn't be happier for Mei to be my first role to embody."

Expect many more roles to come. 

Life

What upcoming project(s) are you most excited about?

I have done an animation and a series for Apple, and I have to say that I am equally excited about both! It was very fun as both of those projects were something new for me and it was my first voiceover job.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

I am very proud of Tell Me Everything; it was my first TV role, so it is definitely something I will remember for the rest of my career. It taught me so much and there were many challenges, but I am grateful to have gone through it with the show's team.

The show has such great variety, so I couldn't be happier for Mei to be my first role to embody.

If you could change one thing about your career, what would it be?

It would have to be typecasting or the use of tokenism in casting. The industry has made a lot of progress and things are becoming way more diverse than before, but I believe that there is still a lot of room for progress.

I would love to see the industry becoming an equal platform for everyone regardless of the way anyone presents, with the focus being on the craft itself.

Top and Trousers: Nensi Dojaka 

What do you hope to achieve that you haven't yet?

There are so many things I hope to achieve in various aspects of my life that I haven't yet, but in regard to my acting career, I would love to work in a broader range of genres, embodying more characters that come from different walks of life.

I would also love to be able to use my first language (Mandarin) in a project one day, something about Chinese culture, I would really enjoy and appreciate that, and I'm sure my family would too.

Outside of your family, who is / was your biggest inspiration?

I look up to Sandra Oh a lot. Growing up, she was one of the only Asian actors I would see in mainstream Western shows, which gave me a lot of hope and inspired me to pursue my acting career.

The characters she has portrayed have also inspired me and I have always looked up to her acting. I think she shows such great range.

Tell us something nobody knows about you.

I recently discovered my favourite drink of all time – which is a Tango Ice Blast. I had no idea what it was before moving to London, and now I genuinely crave it all the time. I sometimes even go see movies I don't want to see to have it.

Top: Frame | Jeans: Mother Demin

Style

What's your favourite item of clothing – and what does it mean to you?

I recently got this personalised sweater that says "best cat mom" with an animated picture of my cat Cookie on it. That has to be my favourite piece of clothing ever. I love my cat too much.

Favourite accessory – watch / jewellery / etc – and why is it special to you?

My grandma bought me this shell bracelet when I was 15, and I literally have not taken it off my wrist since, surprised it's still on there!

What items do you take on holiday and why?

I pack the usual: clothes, sunscreen, a camera, etc., but one thing I always bring is my teddy called Melly, she's just too comfortable to sleep with.

Is there an item you threw away – or lost – that you really miss?

I had these really fluffy sweatpants that I, unfortunately, lost when I was moving, and every time I tried to buy one similar to it, it just didn't feel the same, so definitely those sweatpants.

What's next on your shopping list?

This is a hard one, but a good oversized leather jacket that is warm (I get cold too easily), and I can throw it over anything.

What would you buy if money was no object?

Probably a little island somewhere hot for me and my cat to escape to whenever we wanted. I love London, but it definitely gets a little hectic at times.

Tell Me Everything is streaming now on ITVX