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This exclusive piece explores extraordinary interviews and stories from around the globe.

"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says the actress, who voiced Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, recalls her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the film, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she explains.

These elements were aspects of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"As kids, your surroundings shapes your development and it seems I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when she was young.

She says many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with the entire cast and crew in person, she adds.

The movie was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the racism she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the society and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

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

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity 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 make a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho says she is aware that AI is already being used to copy actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are demanding a sequel.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the production company, 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 it didn't happen."

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