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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says the actress, who voiced Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, 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 the United States.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

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

These elements were aspects of her formative years that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at different points in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

"As kids, what you see shapes who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that was missing when she was young.

She says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

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

"It seems it kind of sucks to say this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like a gamble," she reveals.

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

The movie was released against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Reports have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

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

"But now, in the modern era, when it seems the society and individuals should know better, it's deeply disheartening 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 "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity and something to unite us all together."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to make a film like the animation.

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

"Certainly, I believe there will be digital performers and vocalists. I know they already exist. I know our voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are demanding a sequel.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the question of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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