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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

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

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

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

These elements were components of her formative years that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I despised many parts of me and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, your surroundings influences your development and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

She notes many Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first instance of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," she comments.

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

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time 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 meet the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

The film was released against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Reports have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, Cho understood that the racism she had experienced when she was younger stemmed mainly from 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 it seems the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

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

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us all together."

The growth of AI 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 acknowledges she is aware that technology is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Sure, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have appreciation and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are demanding a follow-up.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the platform or the production company, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she says. "So we shall see, and I think everyone in the world would riot if it didn't happen."

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