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"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, is describing her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having others view me like a foreigner, grappling with my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were aspects of her formative years that mirrored the character's path.

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

"As kids, what you see influences who you become and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the kind that was missing when in her youth.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first instance of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and Cho says she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like a gamble," she says.

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

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

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have suggested that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she came to realise that the racism 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.

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the society and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to 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 became this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity and a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the film industry, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

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

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be digital performers and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust people have some respect and desire for something real."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences around the world are demanding a follow-up.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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