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This exclusive piece delves into extraordinary interviews and narratives from worldwide.

"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, is describing her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

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

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

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

"Truthfully, at various stages in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be a different person.

"As kids, your surroundings influences who you become and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the kind that was missing when she was young.

Cho notes many Korean-Americans have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride 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 global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, currently," she comments.

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

"It seems it kind of sucks to mention 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 everyone working on the film face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

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

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

As an adult, she came to realise that the racism she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as many were unaware what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the world and individuals should know better, 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 says, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity and something to unite us all together."

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

The actress acknowledges she is aware that technology is already being used to copy actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that audiences will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have some respect and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are calling for a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to wait for the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

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

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