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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 the actress, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, recalls her early years in Texas, 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 female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

These elements were components of her early life that mirrored the character's path.

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

"During childhood, your surroundings influences who you become and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when she was young.

Cho notes 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 dual heritage and culture.

"In my view Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress admits she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it kind of sucks to mention this, but whenever 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 meet the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

The movie was launched amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

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

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

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

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the society and people should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

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

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us as one."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress says she is aware that technology is already being used to copy actors' voices, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I believe they're going to have digital performers and vocalists. I know they're already here. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have some respect and desire for something real."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are calling for a sequel.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would riot if it didn't happen."

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