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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," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, recalls her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist 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 others view 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 Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I hated many parts of me and I wanted to be someone else.

"As kids, what you see shapes who you become and it seems I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "an aspiration realized" – 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 Korean-Americans have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first instance of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," 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 movie was released amid increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American 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 lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, she understood that the racism she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

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

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element all together."

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 movie like the animation.

Cho acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be AI actors and singers. I know they already exist. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I hope the public have some respect and want and love for something real."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are demanding a sequel.

She tells us she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the production company, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I think everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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