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"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says the actress, who voiced Rumi in Netflix's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

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

In the film, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, Rumi has to accept her identity as a hybrid being – and when she first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having people treat me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she explains.

These were all aspects of her early life that mirrored Rumi's journey.

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

"As kids, what you see shapes your development and I feel like I just didn't see sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, the animated feature achieved millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for Asian-American children, the type that was missing when in her youth.

Cho says many Korean-Americans have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their mixed background 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 tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," she comments.

But the film's success was uncertain and Cho says she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"It seems 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 says.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

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

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

Reports have suggested 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 adult, Cho came to realise that the racism she had encountered when in her youth stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as many were unaware what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"However today, in this day and age, when I feel like the world and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like we feel so hopeless," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that the film could bring "optimism and happiness to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element as one."

The growth of AI is a significant worry for the entertainment sector, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a movie like the animation.

The actress acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate performers' vocals, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue art created by humans.

"Certainly, I believe they're going to have digital performers and singers. I know they already exist. I know our voices are already being altered, but I hope people have some respect and desire for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the global music charts, with seven tracks from its soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are calling for a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the inquiry of whether that will happen – but both everyone involved will have to await the platform or the studio, which produced the movie, to give it the green light.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I believe everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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