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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," reveals the actress, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"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 female," she explains.

These elements were components of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"As kids, what you see influences your development and it seems I just didn't see enough people that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

She notes many Korean-Americans 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 has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was uncertain and Cho says she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

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

Reports have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she understood that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger 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 world and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like the season's hit film, because there was a need for positivity and something to unite us as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to make a movie like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have digital performers and vocalists. I know they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have appreciation and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are demanding a sequel.

Cho tells us she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, 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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