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

"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's highly successful movie, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, forty, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea 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, the protagonist has to accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

"Growing up in the US, feeling 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 female," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"During childhood, what you see 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 achieved 33 million views in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To star in the pioneering animation set in Korea, with Korean leads, was for her "an aspiration realized" – but it has also made her a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when in her youth.

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

"I feel like K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had such a big impact on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," she comments.

But the movie's triumph was not guaranteed and Cho admits she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like 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 took steps to meet 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 triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

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

Reports have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including adopted children, are among those who could be removed.

As an grown-up, Cho understood that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the society and people ought to be more informed, 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 "optimism and happiness to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and something to unite us as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the film industry, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

The actress acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I understand our voices are already being altered, but I hope the public have some respect and want and love for something real."

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

She tells us 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 approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, the feedback is positive," she shares. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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