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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because that's what was beautiful at the time," says the actress, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's highly successful animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho, forty, is describing her early years in the southern state, as the eldest daughter of Korean immigrant parents and her struggle for acceptance in American society.

In the movie, which tells the story of a girl group who must rescue humanity from dark powers, the protagonist has to come to terms with her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this resonated powerfully.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my identity as an Asian-American, as a Asian-American, as a woman," she says.

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

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

"As kids, your surroundings shapes 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 registered 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Asian protagonists, was for Cho "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for Asian-American children, the kind that was missing when she was young.

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

"I feel like Korean pop music really, truly, has paved the way. K-beauty has had a significant influence on global appreciation for Korea. But I believe this movie is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, everybody wants to go to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and Cho admits she felt the team making it were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"I feel like it kind of sucks to say 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 made an effort to meet everyone working on the film in person, she says.

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

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 150,000 Korean immigrants lacking legal status, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an grown-up, she understood that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth stemmed mainly from a lack of education, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"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 sometimes it appears 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".

"Maybe that's why it became this movie of the summer, because we just needed some hope and a unifying element as one."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the entertainment sector, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

Cho acknowledges she is conscious that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I'm sure they're going to have digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they already exist. I know performers' voices are already being altered, but I trust the public have appreciation and desire for something real."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with multiple songs from its score appearing in the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are demanding a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm 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 there's lots of murmurs, the feedback is positive," she says. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if it didn't happen."

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