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This exclusive piece explores extraordinary interviews and narratives from around the globe.

"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her identity as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become someone else.

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

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when she was young.

She notes many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film 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 not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released amid increased immigration raids in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants 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 removed.

As an adult, she understood that the racism she had experienced when she was younger stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

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

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like 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 major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to produce a movie like the animation.

The actress says she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have some respect and want and love for something real."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are demanding a sequel.

Cho 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 made the film, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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