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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," reveals the actress, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, 40, is describing her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she explains.

These elements were aspects of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"As kids, your surroundings influences who you become and it seems I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when she was young.

She says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"I feel like Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and Cho 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 Asian-led project, people feel like a gamble," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she says.

The movie was released amid increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have suggested that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea 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 stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress says she is aware that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I know they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope the public have appreciation and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences around the world are calling for a follow-up.

Cho tells us she would like to confirm the question of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, 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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