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

"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says Arden Cho, who voiced Rumi in the streaming platform's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

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

In the movie, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as part human, part demon – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having others view me like I'm not, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she says.

These elements were components of her early life that paralleled the character's path.

"I can honestly say, at various stages in my existence, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be someone else.

"As kids, what you see influences who you become and I feel like I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just two weeks, and secured 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 Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the type that she lacked when she was young.

She notes many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "such a refreshing moment", making them proud for the first instance of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I believe this movie is the one that pushed it further, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the film's success was uncertain and the actress says she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to mention this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she reveals.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

The film was launched against the backdrop of increased immigration raids in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Reports have suggested 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, Cho understood that the racism she had encountered when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as people didn't know what it meant to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in this day and age, when I feel like the society and people should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she says.

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

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element as one."

The growth of AI is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to make a movie like the animation.

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

"Sure, I believe they're going to have digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust people have some respect and want and love for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its score appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and audiences around the world are demanding a follow-up.

She reveals she wishes she could answer the inquiry of whether that will happen – 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, the feedback is positive," she says. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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