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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, 40, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as part human, part demon – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"During childhood, what you see influences who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that was missing 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 mixed background and culture.

"I feel like Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to mention this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea lacking legal status, 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 experienced when in her youth stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the world and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho says she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still seek out art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have digital performers and singers. I know they're already here. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are demanding a follow-up.

She tells us she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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