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This exclusive piece delves into extraordinary interviews and narratives from around the globe.

"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, recalls her early years in Texas, as the firstborn child of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in the United States.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a girl group who must save the world from evil forces, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as part human, part demon – and when Cho first read the script, this resonated powerfully.

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

These elements were aspects of her formative years that mirrored Rumi's journey.

"Truthfully, at different points in my existence, I hated many parts of me and I wanted to be a different person.

"As kids, your surroundings influences who you become and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the type that was missing when she was young.

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.

"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 feel like the film is the one that pushed it further, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it's unfortunate to mention this, but whenever there's an Asian-led project, it's perceived like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she took on the role, she made an effort to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was released amid increased immigration raids in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which triggered demonstrations in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Newcomers 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 removed.

As an grown-up, she understood that the prejudice she had encountered when she was younger 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 should know better, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

Because of this, it feels very special, she notes, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like the season's hit film, because there was a need for positivity and something to unite us as one."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in future it could be used to make a film like KPop Demon Hunters.

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

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be AI actors and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have appreciation and desire for authentic creations."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are demanding a follow-up.

She tells us 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 production company, which made the film, to approve the project.

"I'm aware there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she says. "So we shall see, and I think everyone in the world would riot if there wasn't."

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