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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's highly successful movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, is describing her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to accept her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

These were all aspects of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at different points in my life, I despised many parts of me and I wanted to be a different person.

"As kids, what you see influences your development and it seems I just didn't see sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when she was young.

She says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and culture.

"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, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

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

"It seems it kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like a gamble," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she says.

The movie was launched against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

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

Korean news sources have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the racism she had experienced when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when I feel like the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to make a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho says she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I believe there will be digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are demanding a follow-up.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would protest if it didn't happen."

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