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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says the actress, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, is describing her early years in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

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

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

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my existence, I hated many parts of me and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, your surroundings influences your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that was missing when in her youth.

She notes many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was released against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

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

As an grown-up, she understood that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in the modern era, when it seems the society and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

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

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity and something to unite us all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to make a film like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I believe they're going to have digital performers and singers. I know they already exist. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I hope the public have appreciation and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are calling for a sequel.

She tells us she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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