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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," reveals the actress, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

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

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

These were all components of her early life that paralleled the character's path.

"Truthfully, at different points in my existence, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

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

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when she was young.

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

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho says she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

The film was released against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions 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 one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the racism she had encountered when she was younger stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when I feel like the society and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element all together."

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

Cho acknowledges she is aware that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I believe they're going to have digital performers and singers. I know they already exist. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are demanding a sequel.

She reveals she would like to confirm 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 give it the green light.

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

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