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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, forty, is describing her early years in Texas, 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 female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she explains.

These elements were aspects of her early life that paralleled the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at different points in my life, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

"During childhood, your surroundings shapes your development and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings 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 established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when she was young.

She says many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. 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, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and Cho admits she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have suggested that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the racism she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the world and individuals should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it became 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, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

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

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are demanding a follow-up.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

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

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