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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals the actress, who portrayed Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, recalls her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

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 come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

These elements were components of her formative years that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"During childhood, your surroundings influences who you become and I feel like I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. 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 inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

She says many Korean-Americans 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 has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to mention this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to connect with the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

The movie was released amid increased immigration raids in the US as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

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

As an grown-up, Cho came to realise that the racism she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the world and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she says.

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

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to make a movie like the animation.

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

"Sure, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I hope the public have some respect and want and love for something real."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are calling for a sequel.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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