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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 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 the United States.

In the film, 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 part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having people treat me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she explains.

These were all aspects of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at different points in my existence, I hated a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

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

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, 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 notes many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first instance of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

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

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

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she says.

The movie was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American residing in America "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 without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the society and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity and something to unite us all together."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the film industry, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to make a film like the animation.

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

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have digital performers and singers. I know they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are demanding a follow-up.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the question of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to give it the green light.

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

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