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This exclusive piece delves into extraordinary interviews and narratives from worldwide.

"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, forty, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

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

"Truthfully, at various stages in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"As kids, your surroundings influences your development and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just two weeks, and reached the top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. 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 young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when she was young.

She notes many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

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

"It seems it kind of sucks to say this, but whenever there's an production with Asian leads, it's perceived like it's a risk," 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 film was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Reports have suggested that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

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

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love 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 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 movie like the animation.

Cho says she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with seven tracks from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are calling for a follow-up.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the production company, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I think everyone in the world would riot if it didn't happen."

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