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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals the actress, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from evil forces, Rumi has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having people treat me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity 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.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my existence, I hated many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

"During childhood, what you see shapes your development and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when she was young.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress admits she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

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

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and individuals should know better, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, 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 we just needed positivity and a unifying element as one."

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

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe there will be digital performers and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I hope people have appreciation and want and love for something real."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are demanding a follow-up.

She 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 platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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