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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the film, which tells the story of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having people treat me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

These elements were components of her formative years that paralleled Rumi's journey.

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

"During childhood, your surroundings influences your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the kind that was missing when she was young.

Cho says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had such a big impact 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, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and the actress admits she felt the production crew 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 a gamble," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet everyone working on the film face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

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

Korean news sources have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, she understood that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in the modern era, when it seems the society and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears 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 various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the film industry, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to make a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

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

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be AI actors and singers. I know they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have some respect and desire for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are calling for a sequel.

She tells us she wishes she could answer the question of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I think everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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