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

The performer, forty, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child 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 evil forces, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when she 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, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

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

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

"During childhood, your surroundings influences your development and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, 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 Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first instance of their dual heritage and culture.

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she adds.

The film was released amid heightened enforcement actions 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 deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho understood that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when it seems the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening 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 "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us all together."

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 the animation.

Cho says she is aware that AI is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be digital performers and vocalists. I know they're already here. I know our voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are demanding a follow-up.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if it didn't happen."

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