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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says the actress, who portrayed Rumi in the streaming platform's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, recalls her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the film, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, 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, identifying as American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she explains.

These were all components of her early life that paralleled Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at different points in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

"As kids, your surroundings shapes who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when she was young.

She notes many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first instance of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I feel like the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

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

"I feel like it's unfortunate to say this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like a gamble," she reveals.

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

The movie was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Newcomers have shaped the nation."

Reports 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, Cho understood that the racism she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in the modern era, when it seems the society and people should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Due to this, it feels very special, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters 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 we just needed positivity and a unifying element all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence 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 aware that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe there will be AI actors and vocalists. I know they're already here. I understand our voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have appreciation and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences around the world are demanding a sequel.

Cho reveals she would like to confirm the question of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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