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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals the actress, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, forty, recalls 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 tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when she first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she explains.

These were all components of her formative years that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"As kids, your surroundings shapes your development and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when she was young.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she adds.

The movie was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

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

Korean news sources have suggested that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, Cho understood that the racism she had experienced when in her youth 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 it seems the society and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes it appears 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".

"Maybe that's why it became the season's hit film, because we just needed positivity and something to unite us all together."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the film industry, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress says she is aware that AI is already being used to copy actors' voices, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I believe they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I know they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust people have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are calling for a sequel.

Cho tells us she would like to confirm the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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