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This feature explores extraordinary interviews and narratives from around the globe.

"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals the actress, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, forty, recalls her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea 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 accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having others view me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

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

"Truthfully, at various stages in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

"As kids, what you see influences who you become and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho notes many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho admits she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The movie was launched amid 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. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports 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 grown-up, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and individuals should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears 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".

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us as one."

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

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 seek out human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have digital performers and singers. I know they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust people have some respect and want and love for something real."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are demanding a sequel.

Cho tells us 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 production company, which made the film, 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 think everyone in the world would riot if it didn't happen."

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