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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, 40, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in American society.

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

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at different points in my existence, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be a different person.

"As kids, what you see shapes your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho notes many individuals of Korean descent have told her 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 global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho says she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"It seems it kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to meet everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The film was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Reports 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 deported.

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, 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 should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

Due to 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 the season's hit film, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element as one."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress says she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I know they're already here. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have some respect and desire for something real."

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

She reveals she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the platform or the production company, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would protest if it didn't happen."

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