Li has stated she was initially reluctant to portray Alina, afraid the role had been simply to add diversity. On auditioning and performing in a scene where Alina discusses her experience as a biracial woman, however, Li's fears were assuaged, with her growing enthusiastic about it.
Li hopes to gain greater recognition of people with East Asian and or mixed race ancestry through the role, stating that she identifies with it after experiencing racism much as Alina does while growing up over her heritage. She has spoken out about anti-East Asian racism connected with the COVID-19 Pandemic (which East Asians have been blamed for).
She also has ADHD, and wants to be a role model for people who are also neurodivergent. Li is a queer, gender nonconforming woman, using "she/they" pronouns. She has studied martial arts including Taekwondo and Wing Chung. While filming the show, she also began learning Hungarian to bond better with the crew members (it was shot partly in Budapest, Hungary).
Selected filmography:
- All About Eve (2019 National Theatre Live broadcast) as Claudia Casswell
- Locked Up Abroad (2019) as Christine Jucko (1 episode)
- Last Night in Soho (2021) as Lara
- Shadow and Bone (2021-) as Alina Starkov (main role)
