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

"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," reveals the actress, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist 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 a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my existence, I despised a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

"As kids, your surroundings influences who you become and it seems I just didn't see enough people that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, 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 kind that she lacked when she was young.

She says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," she comments.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and Cho admits she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

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

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she says.

The film was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho understood that the racism she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in the modern era, when it seems the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Because of this, it feels very special, she notes, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity and a unifying element as one."

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 film like the animation.

Cho says she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I know they're already here. I know our voices are already being altered, but I trust people have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are demanding a sequel.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if it didn't happen."

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