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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

These were all aspects of her formative years that mirrored the character's path.

"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 shapes your development and it seems I just didn't see sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when she was young.

She notes many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress says she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

The movie was launched amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to 150,000 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 in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when I feel like the society and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters 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 a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to produce a movie like the animation.

Cho acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be digital performers and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I know our voices are already being altered, but I hope the public have some respect and desire for something real."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are calling for a follow-up.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, 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 it didn't happen."

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