🔗 Share this article

This feature explores extraordinary interviews and narratives from worldwide.

"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," says the actress, who voiced Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, 40, is describing her childhood in Texas, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the film, which tells the story of a girl group who must save the world from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as a hybrid being – and when she first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she explains.

These were all aspects of her formative years that paralleled the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my existence, I despised many parts of me and I longed to become a different person.

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

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the top 10 of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "an aspiration realized" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

She says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their mixed background and culture.

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe 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 uncertain and Cho says she felt the team making it were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it kind of sucks to mention this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," 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 film was launched amid heightened enforcement actions in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

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

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand Korean immigrants without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she came to realise that the prejudice she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the world and individuals should know better, it is beyond disappointing and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

Because of this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Maybe that's why it's sort of like the season's hit film, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to make a movie like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is aware that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I know performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope people have some respect and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been dominating the global music charts, with seven tracks from its score featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are calling for a sequel.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both she and fans will have to await the platform or the production company, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she shares. "So we shall see, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

• Starting conversations, building connections and challenging misinformation through features, investigations, interviews and extraordinary stories