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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who voiced the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, forty, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to accept her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

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

"Truthfully, at different points in my life, I hated many parts of me and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, what you see shapes who you become and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film 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 in her youth.

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 culture.

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho says she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The movie was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Reports have estimated that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, she understood that the racism she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

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

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us as one."

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

Cho says she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be digital performers and vocalists. I know they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are calling for a sequel.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if it didn't happen."

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