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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," reveals the actress, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, forty, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the film, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

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

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

"As kids, your surroundings influences your development and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when in her youth.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho admits she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in many states.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have suggested that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the racism she had encountered when she was younger stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as people didn't know what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

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

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us all together."

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

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have digital performers and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have appreciation and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, 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 streaming service or the studio, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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