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This exclusive piece delves into remarkable conversations and narratives from around the globe.

"{I disliked that I looked Asian, that I didn't have blue eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," reveals Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

The performer, 40, recalls her early years in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in the United States.

In the film, which tells the story of a female K-Pop trio who must rescue humanity 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.

"Growing up in the US, feeling American but having others view me like a foreigner, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a woman," she explains.

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

"Truthfully, at various stages in my existence, I despised a lot of myself and I wanted to be a different person.

"During childhood, what you see influences your development and it seems I lacked exposure to enough people that look like me."

When it debuted on the platform in June, KPop Demon Hunters achieved 33 million views in just two weeks, and secured the highest positions of the Netflix charts in 93 countries. To star in the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also made her a inspiring figure for young Asian-Americans, the kind that she lacked when in her youth.

She says many individuals of Korean descent have told her it's "a breath of fresh air", making them proud for the first time of their dual heritage and culture.

"I feel like Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," she comments.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and the actress says she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

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

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to connect with everyone working on the film in person, she adds.

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 person of Asian descent living in the US "it's deeply saddening," says Cho. "Newcomers have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to one hundred fifty thousand individuals from Korea without proper documentation, 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 in her youth was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the society and people ought to be more informed, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears there's a sense of despair," she says.

Because of this, it's particularly meaningful, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it became this movie of the summer, because there was a need for some hope and something to unite us as one."

The growth of AI is a significant worry 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 aware that AI is already being used to copy actors' voices, but wants to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I know our voices are already being altered, but I trust people have some respect and desire for something real."

KPop Demon Hunters has also been leading the global music charts, with multiple songs from its soundtrack featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and viewers around the world are calling for a sequel.

Cho tells us she wishes she could answer the question 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'm aware there's lots of murmurs, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would protest if there wasn't."

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