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

The performer, 40, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when she first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she explains.

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

"Truthfully, at different points in my existence, I despised a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, what you see influences your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

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

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was uncertain and Cho admits she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"It seems it's unfortunate to say this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she says.

The film was launched against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

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

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

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the racism she had experienced when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it became the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element as one."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to produce a movie like the animation.

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I hope the public have some respect and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are demanding a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – 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 know 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 there wasn't."

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