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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, is describing her early years in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, 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 saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be a different person.

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

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To star in the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

She notes many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie 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 says she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

The movie was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

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, she came to realise that the racism she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in the modern era, when it seems the society and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

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

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to make a movie 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 pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe there will be digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are demanding a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she says. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if it didn't happen."

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