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"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, recalls her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self 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.

"I can honestly say, at different points in my existence, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become someone else.

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

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

She says many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress admits she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it kind of sucks to mention this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like a gamble," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she says.

The film was released amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," says Cho. "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 those who were adopted, are among those who could be removed.

As an adult, she understood that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in the modern era, when it seems the society and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Maybe that's why 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 entertainment sector, creating the potential that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Sure, I'm sure there will be digital performers and singers. I know they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I hope people have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences globally are demanding a follow-up.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the streaming service or the production company, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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