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

The performer, forty, is describing her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the film, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were aspects of her formative years that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I hated many parts of me and I longed to become someone else.

"During childhood, your surroundings influences your development and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "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 "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"In my view Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," she comments.

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

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was launched against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the United States 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. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have suggested that up to 150,000 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 prejudice she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the society and individuals should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"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 as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to make a movie like the animation.

Cho acknowledges she is aware that technology is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be AI actors and vocalists. I know they already exist. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have some respect and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are demanding a sequel.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the streaming service or the production company, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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