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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"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 female," she says.

These elements were aspects of her early life that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at different points in my existence, I hated many parts of me and I wanted to be a different person.

"During childhood, what you see influences your development and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

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 Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when she was young.

Cho says many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to mention this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet everyone working on the film in person, she says.

The film was launched against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in many states.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, Cho understood that the prejudice 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 Korean or Asian.

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the society and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity and a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out 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 hope the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are calling for a sequel.

She tells us she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the platform or the production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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