Mortal Kombat (1995) Cast Interviews: The Untold Oral History of a Cult Classic

PlayMortalKombat.com (PMK): Cary, your portrayal of Shang Tsung is arguably the definitive video game villain performance. How did you approach a character known only for a pixelated smirk?

Tagawa: (Laughs deeply) "It began with the voice. I worked with a vocal coach to find that rasp, that whisper that sounded like it had stolen a thousand souls. I saw him not as a brute, but as a decaying aristocrat. A sorcerer who had lived too long, sustained only by the lives he takes. The line 'Your soul is mine!' wasn't in the original script. I ad-libbed it during a rehearsal, and Paul [Anderson] shouted, 'That's it! That's the line!'"

PMK: The transformation scene is iconic. What was filming that like?

Tagawa: "Six hours in the makeup chair for a 90-second scene. The prosthetics were incredibly hot. But when I saw the final effect—the bones protruding, the skin stretching—I knew we had something special. The key was to play the pain as ecstasy. For Shang Tsung, stealing a soul isn't just power; it's a moment of exquisite relief from his eternal decay."

PMK: Robin, you were a established action star in Hong Kong. What made you say yes to an American video game movie?

Shou: "The script respected the character. Liu Kang wasn't just a fighter; he was a monk on a spiritual quest for vengeance and justice. That depth attracted me. Also, the promise of doing my own stunts with a Hollywood budget! My training was intense—6 hours a day, mixing Wushu, Muay Thai, and wire work. The famous 'bicycle kick'? We did 47 takes. My legs were jelly for days."

PMK: There's a famous story about you and the Goro puppet...

Shou: "(Grins) Ah, Goro! A magnificent, four-armed puppet operated by four guys. In our fight, I had to react to its movements, but the operators couldn't always see me. One punch from a hydraulic arm accidentally connected for real. I saw stars! But we kept rolling. In the final film, that's the take where my reaction is most genuine. Total chaos, but it worked."

PMK: Linden, Johnny Cage is the comic relief, but with a heart. How did you balance the arrogance with the charm?

Ashby: "I played him as a guy who truly believes his own hype, but deep down is terrified of being exposed as a fraud. The journey is him proving—to himself and others—that he's a real warrior. The 'shadow kick' was my idea. I said, 'What if I do this crazy split and just launch myself?' The stunt coordinator looked at me like I was mad, but we figured it out. My groin still aches thinking about it!"

PMK: Your chemistry with Bridgette Wilson (Sonya) is legendary. Was that instant?

Ashby: "From day one. Bridgette is a powerhouse. We decided early on that their relationship was a constant 'will they, won't they' fueled by mutual respect and annoyance. The banter was mostly improvised. The line 'Those were $500 sunglasses, asshole.' was pure adrenaline-fueled improv after I accidentally broke my prop."

PMK: Bridgette, Sonya Blade is a trailblazer—tough, capable, not a damsel. Did you feel that weight?

Wilson: "Absolutely. At the time, female leads in action were often sidelined. I trained for three months with Navy SEAL consultants. I wanted my moves to be efficient, brutal—not flashy like the men's. The fight with Kano (Trevor Goddard) was grueling. We shot it over a week in that sticky, humid warehouse. Trevor and I were covered in bruises, but we were determined to make it visceral."

PMK: The infamous leg-wrap maneuver?

Wilson: "(Laughs) My signature move! It's based on a Luta Livre submission. The choreography was solid, but on take 12, I actually pulled a muscle in my thigh. The scream of pain you hear in the film? Very real. They kept it in."

PMK: Talisa, Kitana is an enigmatic princess. How did you convey her conflict while having limited dialogue?

Soto: "It was all in the eyes and posture. I studied traditional Chinese court manners and ballet to give her that regal, otherworldly grace. Her loyalty to Shang Tsung is born of millennia of conditioning, but her empathy for the heroes is her true self breaking through. The fan blades? They were razor-sharp props. I had a martial arts double for the wide shots, but the close-ups are me. I was terrified I'd cut someone!"

PMK: Christopher, coming off Highlander, you were already an immortal icon. What drew you to Raiden?

Lambert: "The absurdity! (Chuckles) A thunder god who mentors mortals in a tournament to save Earth. It's glorious myth. I played him as amused by human folly but deeply invested in our potential. The hat was a nightmare—it kept falling off during the wind machines. The electricity effects were added later, so I had to mime holding pure energy. It required a certain... divine focus."