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"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, forty, recalls her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world 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, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

These elements were components of her formative years that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at different points in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

"During childhood, what you see shapes who you become and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when she was young.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first instance of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence 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," she comments.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and Cho says she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

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

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

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

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

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the society and individuals 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 the film 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 a unifying element as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho 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 pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I trust people have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

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

She tells us she would like to confirm the question of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware 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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