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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, recalls her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which tells the story 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 saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

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

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

"Truthfully, at various stages in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"As kids, what you see shapes your development and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type 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 feel pride for the first time of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. 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 the actress admits she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

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

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, 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 many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Reports have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, Cho understood that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the society and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us as one."

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

Cho acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have digital performers and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I know our voices are already being altered, but I hope the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally 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 production company, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, 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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