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

"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging 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 accept her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like a foreigner, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

These were all aspects of her formative years that mirrored the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I wanted to be 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 the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the kind that was missing when she was young.

She notes many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first instance of their mixed background and cultural roots.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and the actress says 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 Asian-led project, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was launched against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

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

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, Cho understood that the racism 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 this day and age, when it seems the world and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it became the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho says she is aware that AI is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I hope the public have some respect and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. 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 whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if it didn't happen."

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