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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, is describing her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the film, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having others view me like a foreigner, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she explains.

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

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

"During childhood, what you see influences who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

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 pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that was missing when in her youth.

She says many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first time of their mixed background and culture.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," she comments.

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

"I feel like 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 accepted the part, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The movie was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

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

Korean news sources have estimated that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the racism she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

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

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 some hope and a unifying element as one."

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 produce a film like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that audiences 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 manipulated, but I trust people have appreciation and desire for something real."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences around the world are calling for a follow-up.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the question of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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