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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, is describing her early years in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the film, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my identity as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

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

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

"As kids, your surroundings shapes who you become and it seems I just didn't see enough people that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, 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.

She notes many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," Cho says.

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

"It seems it kind of sucks to mention this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in many states.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the society and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Due to this, it feels very special, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters 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 there was a need for some hope and something to unite us all together."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho acknowledges she is aware that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I'm sure they're going to have digital performers and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I hope people have some respect and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are calling for 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 production company, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she says. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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