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"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having others view me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were components of her formative years that mirrored the character's path.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I hated many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

"During childhood, your surroundings shapes your development and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To star in the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho says many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first instance of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

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

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she says.

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

The movie was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have suggested that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she understood that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the society and individuals should know better, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

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

"Maybe that's why it became the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to make a movie like the animation.

The actress says she is conscious that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be digital performers and vocalists. I know they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are calling for a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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