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

"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, forty, recalls her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world from evil forces, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

These were all aspects of her formative years that paralleled Rumi's journey.

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

"During childhood, your surroundings influences who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters registered millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the top 10 of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in 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 in her youth.

She says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud 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 feel like this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress says 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 production with Asian leads, it's perceived like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew in person, she adds.

The movie was launched amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, she understood that the racism she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a knowledge gap, as people didn't know what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and people ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," 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 the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element as one."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to make a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

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

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be digital performers and vocalists. I know they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have appreciation and want and love for something real."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers globally are calling for a sequel.

She tells us she wishes she could answer the question of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to await the platform or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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