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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the film, which tells the story of a girl group who must save the world from evil forces, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were aspects of her formative years that mirrored the character's path.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I despised a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, your surroundings shapes your development 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 33 million views in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when she was young.

She says many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress says she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to mention this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

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

The movie was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests 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 suggested that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the racism she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the world and people should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it feels very special, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters 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 all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

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

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have some respect and desire for something real."

The film has also been leading the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are calling for a follow-up.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

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

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