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"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, forty, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

These were all components of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at different points in my existence, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"As kids, your surroundings shapes who you become and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when she was young.

She says many Korean-Americans have told her 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 Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

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

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was launched amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources 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 removed.

As an grown-up, Cho understood that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, 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 at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

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

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a movie like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have digital performers and singers. I know they already exist. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are calling for a follow-up.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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