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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she explains.

These were all components of her formative years that mirrored the character's path.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, what you see shapes 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 top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that was missing when in her youth.

Cho says many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"I feel like Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho says she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say 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 took steps to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she says.

The film was released 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 person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

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

As an adult, Cho understood that the prejudice she had encountered 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 individuals should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she notes, that the film 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 some hope and a unifying element 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 produce a movie like the animation.

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

"Sure, I believe they're going to have digital performers and singers. I know they're already here. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I trust people have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are demanding a follow-up.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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