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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, 40, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

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

"Truthfully, 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 who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, 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 was missing when she was young.

Cho notes many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress admits she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to say this, but whenever 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 US as part of mass deportation efforts, 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 estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she understood that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as people didn't know what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when it seems the world and people should know better, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, 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 future it could be used to produce a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are calling for a sequel.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the question of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the platform 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 shares. "So we shall see, and I think everyone in the world would protest if it didn't happen."

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