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"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals the actress, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, forty, recalls her early years in Texas, 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 female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat 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 were all aspects of her early life that mirrored the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I hated many parts of me and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, your surroundings influences your development and it seems I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when she was young.

She says many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first instance of their dual heritage and culture.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and the actress admits she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

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

Reports have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho understood that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

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

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element as one."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to make a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe there will be AI actors and singers. I know they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have appreciation and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are calling for a sequel.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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