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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her identity as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

These were all components of her formative years that mirrored the character's path.

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

"As kids, what you see influences who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when in her youth.

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

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say 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 took steps to connect with the entire cast and crew in person, she adds.

The film was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

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

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when it seems the society and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"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 advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho acknowledges she is aware that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust people have appreciation and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are demanding a follow-up.

Cho tells us 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 production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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