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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 voiced Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

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

These elements were aspects of her formative years that mirrored the character's path.

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

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

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when in her youth.

She says many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first instance of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho 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 Asian-led project, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The film was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources 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 grown-up, Cho understood that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when I feel like the society and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like the season's hit film, because we just needed positivity and a unifying element all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be digital performers and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for something real."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are demanding a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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