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This exclusive piece explores extraordinary interviews and narratives from around the globe.

"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's chart-topping movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, is describing her early years in Texas, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the film, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her identity as part human, part demon – and when she 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, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Asian-American, as a female," she says.

These elements were components of her formative years that mirrored the character's path.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I hated a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

"As kids, what you see shapes your development and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

She notes many Korean-Americans have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first instance of their mixed background and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics 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 the actress says she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

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

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was released against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in many states.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Reports have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including adopted children, 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 knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when it seems the society and individuals should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, 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 the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a movie like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that AI is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have AI actors and vocalists. I know they're already here. I know our voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are demanding a follow-up.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry 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 there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she says. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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