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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, recalls her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child 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 rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to accept her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she explains.

These elements were aspects of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I despised a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

"As kids, what you see shapes your development and it seems I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked 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.

"I feel like Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and Cho says she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"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 reveals.

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

The film was launched amid increased immigration raids 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 deeply saddening," says Cho. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports have estimated that up to 150,000 Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, she understood that the racism she had encountered when she was younger stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us all together."

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

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and singers. I know they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being altered, but I hope the public have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are calling for a sequel.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to await the platform or the production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

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

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