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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, recalls her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she explains.

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

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

"During childhood, what you see shapes who you become and it seems I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters achieved 33 million views in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when she was young.

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

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like a gamble," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The film was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

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

As an adult, she came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, 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 people should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a movie like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I believe there will be AI actors and vocalists. I know they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are calling for a follow-up.

She tells us she would like to confirm the question of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to await the platform or the production company, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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