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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals the actress, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's highly successful movie, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, 40, is describing her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world from evil forces, the protagonist has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

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

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

"I can honestly say, at different points in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, your surroundings shapes who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when she was young.

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

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

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

"It seems it kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like a gamble," she says.

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

The film was released amid 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 residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, 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 at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element as one."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho says 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 art created by humans.

"Certainly, I believe they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I know our voices are already being altered, but I hope the public have some respect and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are demanding a follow-up.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to await the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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