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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she explains.

These elements were components of her early life that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become someone else.

"As kids, what you see influences your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

She notes many Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and Cho says she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she says.

The movie was released amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Reports have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

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

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the society and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like the season's hit film, because we just needed positivity and a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the film industry, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to make a movie like the animation.

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

"Sure, I believe there will be digital performers and singers. I know they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have some respect and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are demanding a sequel.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would protest if it didn't happen."

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