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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, forty, recalls 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 narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were aspects of her formative years that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my existence, I despised 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 sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just two weeks, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho notes many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.

"In my view 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, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and the actress says she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

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

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was launched amid increased immigration raids in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

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

Reports have suggested that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, Cho understood that the racism she had experienced when she was younger stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as people didn't know what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

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

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like this movie of the summer, 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, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho says she is aware that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe there will be digital performers and singers. I know they already exist. I know our voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are calling for a sequel.

She reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the platform or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would protest if it didn't happen."

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