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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals the actress, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the movie, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

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

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

"As kids, what you see influences who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when she was young.

Cho notes many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"In my view K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and Cho says she felt the production crew 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 says.

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she says.

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 Asian-American residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, she came to realise that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the society and individuals 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's particularly meaningful, she says, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element as one."

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

The actress says she is conscious that technology is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I know they already exist. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are demanding a sequel.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to wait for 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. "Only time will tell, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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