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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's highly successful movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group 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 read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as 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 mirrored the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at different points in my existence, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be a different person.

"During childhood, your surroundings shapes your development and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that she lacked when she was young.

Cho says many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background and culture.

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

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

"It seems it's unfortunate to mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like a gamble," she says.

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

The movie was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the world and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, because we just needed positivity and something to unite us as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to make a movie like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

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

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are demanding a sequel.

She tells us she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I think everyone in the world would riot if it didn't happen."

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