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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 the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, 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 movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

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

These were all components of her early life that paralleled the character's path.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be a different person.

"As kids, your surroundings influences your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

She says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

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

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet everyone working on the film face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

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

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

As an adult, she understood that the racism she had experienced 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.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us all together."

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

Cho acknowledges she is aware that technology is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I believe there will be AI actors and vocalists. I know they already exist. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I hope the public have some respect and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are calling for a follow-up.

She tells us she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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