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This exclusive piece explores extraordinary interviews and narratives from worldwide.

"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," reveals the actress, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, forty, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea 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, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

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

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

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

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when she was young.

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 cultural roots.

"I feel like K-Pop 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 pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and Cho says she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The movie was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in many states.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

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 deported.

As an adult, she came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in the modern era, when it seems the society and people should know better, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes it appears there's a sense of despair," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress says she is conscious that technology is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have digital performers and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

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

Cho tells us she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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