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This exclusive piece delves into extraordinary interviews and stories from worldwide.

"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I lacked light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

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

In the movie, 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 part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

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

"Truthfully, at different points in my existence, I despised many parts of me and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, what you see influences your development and it seems I lacked exposure to enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first instance of their dual heritage and culture.

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like 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 "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to mention this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, people feel like a gamble," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was launched against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

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

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the racism she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to make a film like the animation.

The actress says she is conscious 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 know they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have appreciation and desire for something real."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with seven tracks from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are calling for a sequel.

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 give it the green light.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I think everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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