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This exclusive piece delves into remarkable conversations and stories from around the globe.

"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I lacked light-colored eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, 40, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the film, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from evil forces, Rumi has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having people treat me like a foreigner, grappling with my identity as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

These were all aspects of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at various stages in my life, I despised a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

"During childhood, your surroundings influences who you become and it seems I just didn't see sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in June, the animated feature registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and reached 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 Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first instance of their dual heritage and culture.

"I feel like K-Pop really, truly, has paved the way. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

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

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 increased immigration raids 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," she states. "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 understood that the racism she had encountered when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be of Asian descent.

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

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for 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 coming years it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that audiences will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I'm sure 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 want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the international music rankings, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are demanding a sequel.

She tells us she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the studio, which made the film, to give it the green light.

"I know there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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