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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's highly successful movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, is describing her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having others view me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she explains.

These elements were aspects of her formative years that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"During childhood, your surroundings shapes who you become and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just 14 days, 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 "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the kind that was missing when in her youth.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress 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 production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to connect with the entire cast and crew in person, 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 heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

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

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the racism she had experienced when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us 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 make a film like the animation.

Cho says she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure they're going to have digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I know our voices are already being altered, but I hope people have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are demanding a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry 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 give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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