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This exclusive piece explores extraordinary interviews and narratives from worldwide.

"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea 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, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when she first read the script, 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 sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were components of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I longed to become a different person.

"As kids, what you see shapes who you become and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

She notes many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "such a refreshing moment", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress admits she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

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

So, when she accepted the part, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she says.

The film was released against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have suggested that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the society and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she expresses.

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

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed positivity and a unifying element 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 film like the animation.

Cho says she is aware that technology is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

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

The film has also been leading the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are calling for a follow-up.

Cho reveals she wishes she could answer the question of whether that will happen – but both she and fans will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I think fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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