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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, is describing her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having others view me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

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

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

"As kids, what you see shapes your development and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just two weeks, and secured the top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when she was young.

Cho says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"I feel like Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to mention this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

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 against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

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

Reports have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she came to realise that the racism 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 I feel like the society and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

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

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

The growth of AI is a major concern for the film industry, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be digital performers and vocalists. I know they already exist. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

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 viewers around the world are calling for a sequel.

She tells us she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would protest if it didn't happen."

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