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

"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

These elements were components of her early life that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

"As kids, your surroundings influences who you become and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when she was young.

Cho says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the team making it 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, it's perceived like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The movie was launched amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the society and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element all together."

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

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe there will be digital performers and singers. I know they already exist. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have some respect and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are calling for a sequel.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the question of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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