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

"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals the actress, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, is describing her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from evil forces, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

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

These were all components of her formative years that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"During childhood, your surroundings shapes who you become and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. 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 inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

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

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress 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 production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she says.

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

The movie was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

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

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

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

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

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element all together."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I believe there will be AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I know our voices are already being altered, but I trust people have some respect and desire for something real."

The film has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers globally are calling for a follow-up.

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

"I know there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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