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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the film, which tells the story of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she explains.

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

"Truthfully, at different points in my existence, I hated many parts of me and I longed to become someone else.

"During childhood, what you see influences your development and it seems I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

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

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and Cho admits 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 a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The film was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, Cho understood that the racism she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in the modern era, when it seems the society and people should know better, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us as one."

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

The actress acknowledges she is aware that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be AI actors and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I hope the public have some respect and want and love for something real."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are demanding a sequel.

She tells us she would like to confirm the question 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 shares. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would riot if it didn't happen."

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