Simu Liu Says He Wanted 'Shang-Chi' Role So Badly He 'Exaggerated' His Martial Arts Background
etonline.comSimu Liu subscribed to in order to land his breakthrough role in, admitting he «exaggerated» his martial arts skills because he so «badly» wanted the titular role.The 32-year-old actor became a global sensation after joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2021, but little did anyone know Liu «bluffed» his way into the role.
During a discussion for 's «Actors on Actors» series, star Ariana DeBose said she admired Liu's dancing background (he was in a hip-hop competitive dance team in college) but admitted being taken aback by his sheer physicality in.
Then came the bombshell.«When I got the part, they asked me about my martial arts background and experience, which of course I exaggerated because I wanted the job really badly,» admitted Liu, to which DeBose replied, «You bluffed your way into the part — I love it!»Liu went on to explain that he «had done some work as an on-again, off-again stuntman, but if we’re honest, I think I was more of a dancer than I ever was a martial artist.»Lucky for him, training for the role happened immediately.«Pretty much from the moment I was cast, I started working with trainers and learning how to move,» he said. «I had such awful flexibility.
My groin and my tendons were just so stiff. A big part of that early process was just bending my body and trying to rip those legs apart.»And, while he was at it, Liu dropped a nugget that was unbeknownst to DeBose.«But what was great too is it was my first movie,» said Liu before DeBose interrupted with, «Wait, what?
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