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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, 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 movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having people treat me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she explains.

These elements were components of her early life that mirrored the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at different points in my life, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

"During childhood, your surroundings shapes your development and it seems I just didn't see enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To be part of 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 Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho notes many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first instance of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music 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 pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

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

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

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The film 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 person of Asian descent residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the society and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

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

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

Cho says she is conscious that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be digital performers and singers. 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 authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are demanding a sequel.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to await the platform or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if it didn't happen."

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