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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says the actress, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, is describing her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea 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 dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

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

These were all aspects of her early life that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my existence, I hated many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

"During childhood, what you see influences who you become and I feel like I lacked exposure to enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model 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 mixed background and cultural roots.

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the film's success was uncertain and Cho says she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was launched amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Reports 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 adult, she understood that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

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

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a movie like the animation.

Cho acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be AI actors and singers. I know they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

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

Cho tells us she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if it didn't happen."

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