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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, the protagonist has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

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

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

"I can honestly say, at different points in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

"As kids, what you see shapes your development and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals 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 highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

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

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the movie's triumph 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 say this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, people feel like a gamble," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

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

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

Reports have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

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

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

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

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the film industry, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to make a movie like the animation.

Cho says she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I know they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I hope the public have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are demanding a sequel.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would riot if it didn't happen."

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