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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, 40, is describing her early years in the southern state, 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 evil forces, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

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

These were all aspects of her formative years that paralleled the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at different points in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"During childhood, what you see influences who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when in her youth.

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

"In my view Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

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

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

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she adds.

The film was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the society and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

Cho says she is conscious that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I believe there will be 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 multiple songs from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are demanding a sequel.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if it didn't happen."

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