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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 back then," reveals Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, is describing her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

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 true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were aspects of her early life that paralleled the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at different points in my existence, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

"During childhood, your surroundings influences who you become and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts 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 made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when in her youth.

She says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress admits she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"It seems it's unfortunate to say this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

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

The movie was released against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American living in the US "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 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 many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

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

Because of this, it feels very special, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us 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 says she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe there will be digital performers and vocalists. I know they're already here. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for something real."

The film has also been leading the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are calling for a follow-up.

She tells us she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved 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. "So we shall see, and I think everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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