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This feature explores extraordinary interviews and narratives from worldwide.

"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked 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 chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having people treat me like I'm not, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

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

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

"During childhood, your surroundings influences who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when in her youth.

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

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

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

"It seems it kind of sucks to mention 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 made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, 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 many states.

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 150,000 individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"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 "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us as one."

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

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

"Certainly, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I know they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have some respect and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are calling for a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the question of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if it didn't happen."

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