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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, is describing her early years in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

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

"Being born in America, identifying as 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 says.

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

"Truthfully, at different points in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"As kids, what you see shapes your development and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions 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 type that was missing when she was young.

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

"I feel like Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress says she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States 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 estimated that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, Cho understood that the racism she had experienced when she was younger stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she notes, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element all together."

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

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

"Sure, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have some respect and desire for something real."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are demanding a sequel.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the platform or the production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she says. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if it didn't happen."

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