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"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, 40, recalls 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 movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

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

These were all components of her early life that mirrored the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"During childhood, what you see shapes your development and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when in her youth.

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

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. 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 not guaranteed and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she adds.

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

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the racism she had experienced when in her youth stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like 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 feels very special, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity and something to unite us all together."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being altered, but I hope people have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences around the world are demanding a follow-up.

Cho 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 production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

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

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