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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 at the time," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world 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.

"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 Asian-American, as a female," she says.

These were all components of her early life that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my life, I hated many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

"As kids, what you see shapes who you become and I feel like I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that was missing when she was young.

She notes many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

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

"I feel like it kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she adds.

The movie was released against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

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 adult, Cho understood that the racism she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the society and individuals should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like 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 significant worry for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and desire for something real."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are calling for a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the question of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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