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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says the actress, who voiced the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, forty, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the eldest daughter 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 dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she explains.

These elements were components of her early life that mirrored the character's path.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I hated a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

"As kids, 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 the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho notes many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

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

"It seems it kind of sucks to mention this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The film was released amid increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Reports have estimated 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 adult, she understood that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the world and people should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element all together."

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

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, 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 digital performers and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I hope the public have appreciation and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its score appearing in 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 question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

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

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