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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says the actress, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's highly successful movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, is describing her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when she first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having others view me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

These elements were components of her early life that mirrored the character's path.

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

"As kids, what you see shapes who you become and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

She notes many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like a gamble," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet everyone working on the film in person, she says.

The movie was released amid heightened enforcement actions 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 made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in this day and age, when I feel like the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes it appears there's a sense of despair," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us as one."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still seek out art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are calling for a follow-up.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if it didn't happen."

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