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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, forty, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child 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 dark powers, Rumi has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she explains.

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

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

"As kids, what you see shapes your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that was missing when in her youth.

She notes many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first instance of their dual heritage and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress 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 a gamble," she says.

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

The film was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in many states.

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

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness 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 growth of AI is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I believe they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I know they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I hope people have some respect and desire for something real."

The film has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are calling for a sequel.

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 production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if it didn't happen."

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