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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says the actress, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, forty, is describing her early years in the southern state, 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 girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

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

"Truthfully, at various stages in my life, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

"During childhood, what you see influences your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings 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 made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

She says many individuals of Korean descent have told her 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 feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

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

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

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

The movie was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in many states.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have suggested that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she understood that the racism she had experienced when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when it seems the society and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element as one."

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

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be digital performers and singers. I know they already exist. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences around the world are calling for a sequel.

She tells us she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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