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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, recalls her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she explains.

These elements were components of her formative years that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I despised many parts of me and I wanted to be a different person.

"As kids, what you see influences who you become and it seems I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in 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 powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that she lacked when she was young.

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

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I believe 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 production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to say 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 adds.

The film was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho understood that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the society and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

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

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to make a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

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

"Sure, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are calling for a sequel.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to await the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if it didn't happen."

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