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"{I disliked 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, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, 40, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the film, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she explains.

These elements were aspects of her formative years that paralleled the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my existence, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, what you see influences who you become and it seems I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters achieved 33 million views in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when she was young.

She notes many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride 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 believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho admits 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, it's perceived like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The film was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

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

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the racism she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, 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 world and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears there's a sense of despair," she says.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"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 advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a movie like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to copy actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I believe there will be AI actors and vocalists. I know they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have appreciation and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are calling for a sequel.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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