'Kung Fu's' Olivia Liang Says She Struggled With Anorexia As A Young Dancer
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If you’ve watched Olivia’s killer fight choreo on The CW’s Kung Fu, you might assume she’s been punching and kicking her entire life.
But the 29-year-old’s intro to movement was actually through dance as a kid. “It was the form of storytelling that I fell in love with first,” Olivia recalls.
But as much as she relished performing ballet, jazz, and hip-hop, she also felt pressure to conform to unrealistic standards. “I was dancing at a time when a rail-thin body type was the goal,” she says. “So I struggled with anorexia in middle school.”
Confiding in a close friend gave her the support she needed to heal, but Olivia says she’s still unraveling some of those unhealthy thoughts. “It’s a lot better now—I appreciate my body for what it’s able to do for me.”
That would include learning martial arts for Kung Fu. “Being an Asian woman, everyone expects it on my résumé, which is a major stereotype,” she says.
Instead, Olivia held out for the right role that would train her, and she credits showrunner Christina M. Kim for giving her that opportunity. “It’s been amazing,” Olivia says. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever put my body through, even more than dance. I feel really strong.”
Here are some of the game-changing lessons Olivia's learned along the way:
Make Gratitude a Team Sport
“My partner and I recap every day and name three highlights that made us happy. It helps me stay in a place of appreciation since I have a bit of a negative outlook on life.”
10: The age at which she quit the piano lessons that made her “miserable” and started dance classes
Build New Bonds as an Adult
“Talk to your parents—get to know them and their life story. It’s really nice to be older and see my mom as a human being instead of, like, Supermom, which she still is.”
Boldly Ask for What You Want
“The best advice I’ve received is ‘Let them say no.’ I tend to get in my head and imagine every single outcome. This mindset helps me get over the hurdles I’m putting in front of myself.”
This article originally appeared in the December 2022 issue of Women's Health. Sign up for our WH+ memberships program to subscribe, score unlimited site access, and unlock our exclusive guides and fitness challenges.
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