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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue 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 childhood in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"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 Asian-American, as a female," she explains.

These elements were aspects of her formative years that mirrored the character's path.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I hated many parts of me and I longed to become someone else.

"During childhood, your surroundings shapes your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured 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 powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

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

"I feel like Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho admits she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

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

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with the entire cast and crew in person, she adds.

The movie was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the US 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. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the society and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

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

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a movie like the animation.

The actress 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'm aware they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have some respect and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are calling for a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

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

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