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This exclusive piece delves into extraordinary interviews and stories from worldwide.

"{I hated that I looked Asian, that I lacked blue eyes and blonde hair, because those were the beauty standards at the time," says Arden Cho, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping animated film, KPop Demon Hunters.

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

In the film, which narrates the tale 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 struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, identifying as American but having others view me like I'm not, trying to figure out my sense of self as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at different points in my life, I hated a lot of myself and I wanted to be a different person.

"During childhood, your surroundings shapes who you become and it seems I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the top 10 of the streaming rankings in dozens of nations. To star in the first Hollywood animated film set in Korea, with Asian protagonists, 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 in her youth.

Cho notes many individuals of Korean descent 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. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact 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," Cho says.

But the movie's triumph was uncertain and Cho says she felt the production crew were "sometimes facing an uphill battle".

"It seems it kind of sucks to say this, but any time there's an production with Asian leads, people feel like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she accepted the part, she made an effort to connect with everyone working on the film face-to-face, she says.

The movie was released amid heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of extensive removal policies, which sparked protests in many states.

As an Asian-American living in the US "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have shaped the nation."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea without proper documentation, including those who were adopted, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, she understood that the prejudice she had experienced when in her youth stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it signified to be of Asian descent.

"But now, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and individuals should know better, it is beyond disappointing and at times it appears we feel so hopeless," she says.

Due to this, it feels very special, she says, that KPop Demon Hunters could bring "hope and joy and love to various groups".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like the season's hit film, because there was a need for some hope and a unifying element all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a significant worry for the film industry, raising the possibility that in coming years it could be used to produce a movie like KPop Demon Hunters.

Cho says she is conscious that AI is already being used to copy performers' vocals, but wants to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still seek out art created by humans.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be digital performers and vocalists. I'm aware they're already here. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I hope the public have some respect and want and love for authentic creations."

The film has also been dominating the global music charts, with seven tracks from its score featured on the prestigious charts. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are calling for a sequel.

She tells us she would like to confirm the question of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to await the streaming service or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I know rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think fans everywhere would riot if it didn't happen."

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