Ludi Lin – Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat 2 – on Asian representation and his upbringing
Before he resumed his Mortal Kombat role, the actor worked on Power Rangers, Monster Hunt, DC’s Aquaman and Netflix’s Black Mirror
“I always picked Sub-Zero whenever I played Mortal Kombat,” says Ludi Lin when asked which avatar he gravitated towards in the iconic fighting game. “I like that he can freeze opponents. It gives me a moment to think about what I’m going to do next.”
It’s an intriguing choice, given Lin plays Liu Kang – the franchise’s central hero – in the Mortal Kombat films.
It’s a regular Monday when we meet at East Hong Kong hotel in Quarry Bay. We begin with the usual small talk – the weather, travel, Vancouver – as the 38-year-old settles easily into the sofa across from me. Having spent some of his formative years in Hong Kong, the actor clearly feels at home.
I had seen him on the big screen just a week earlier at a private screening of Mortal Kombat 2, and can’t help but contrast the actor and the character. On screen, his Liu Kang is formidable: a former Shaolin monk, champion of the Mortal Kombat tournament, the God of Fire, protector of Earthrealm. In person, Lin is open and disarmingly warm – far removed from the austere stoicism of his character. He speaks candidly, moving between stories: from being rejected by his high school crush, actress Jessica Matten – now known for her role in Robert Redford and George R.R. Martin’s Dark Winds – to recounting getting into a minor car accident on the way to audition for Liu Kang.
“My trousers were ripped going into the audition,” he tells me. “But sometimes you need something to take you out of your head. I was in a bit of pain, just trying to get through it – and they really liked it.”
“I try not to be narcissistic, but I loved seeing fans explode with enthusiasm for the movie. It’s the most gratifying thing for me,” Lin says.
The actor’s childhood has all the makings of a Karate Kid story. Born in Fuzhou, China, he spent some of his childhood in Hong Kong before moving to Australia, eventually settling in Vancouver at 17. Growing up as the only Asian kid in predominantly white environments, combined with the instability of moving frequently, often led him into scuffles with bullies.
