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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world from evil forces, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, 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 Asian-American, as a female," she explains.

These were all components of her formative years that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at different points in my life, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become someone else.

"As kids, what you see influences your development and it seems I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To star in the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

She says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.

"In my view Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

The film was released amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as many were unaware what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the world and individuals should know better, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

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

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity and something to unite us as one."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to make a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress says she is conscious that AI is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have some respect and want and love for something real."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are demanding a sequel.

She reveals she would like to confirm the question of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I think everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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