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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, recalls her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as part human, part demon – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

These elements were aspects of her early life that paralleled the character's path.

"Truthfully, at different points in my life, I hated many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

"During childhood, what you see shapes who you become and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that was missing when in her youth.

She says many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and the actress admits she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to say this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when it seems the society and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, because we just needed positivity and a unifying element as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho says she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still seek out art created by humans.

"Sure, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have some respect and desire for something real."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are demanding a sequel.

She reveals she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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