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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, is describing her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having others view me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

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

"Truthfully, at different points in my existence, I despised a lot of myself and I wanted to be a different person.

"As kids, what you see influences who you become and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when she was young.

Cho says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress says 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 Asian-led project, it's perceived like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The film was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she understood that the racism she had encountered when she was younger stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the society and people should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress says she is conscious that AI is already being used to copy actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I hope the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are calling for a follow-up.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if it didn't happen."

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