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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, recalls her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having others view me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at different points in my existence, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

"As kids, what you see shapes your development and it seems I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, 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 she was young.

She notes many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their mixed background and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," she comments.

But the film's success was uncertain and Cho says she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

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 launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

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

As an grown-up, she understood that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from 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 individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I hope people have some respect and want and love for something real."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are calling for a sequel.

She tells us she wishes she could answer the question of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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