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"{I disliked that I had Asian features, that I didn't have light-colored eyes and fair hair, because those were the beauty standards back then," reveals the actress, who portrayed the lead character in Netflix's chart-topping movie, the K-pop themed animation.

Cho, forty, is describing her childhood in the southern state, as the firstborn child of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging in American society.

In the movie, which narrates the tale of a female K-Pop trio who must save the world from evil forces, Rumi has to come to terms with her identity as a hybrid being – and when Cho first read the script, this struck a deep chord.

"Being born in America, feeling American but having others view me like a foreigner, grappling with my identity as an Asian-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

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

"I can honestly say, at different points in my existence, I hated a lot of myself and I longed to become someone else.

"As kids, your surroundings influences your development and I feel like I lacked exposure to sufficient individuals that look like me."

When it launched on Netflix in the summer, the animated feature registered millions of streams in just 14 days, and reached the highest positions of the Netflix charts in dozens of nations. To be part of the pioneering animation with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for her "a dream come true" – but it has also established her as a powerful role model for young Asian-Americans, the type that she lacked when in her youth.

Cho notes many individuals of Korean descent have expressed it's "a breath of fresh air", making them feel pride for the first time of their dual heritage and cultural roots.

"In my view Korean pop music has genuinely broken barriers. Korean cosmetics has had such a big impact on Korea being loved. But I believe the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, currently," Cho says.

But the film's success was not guaranteed and Cho says 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 a gamble," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet the entire cast and crew face-to-face, she adds.

The movie was launched amid increased immigration raids in the US as part of extensive removal policies, which triggered demonstrations in numerous regions.

As an Asian-American residing in America "it's deeply saddening," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have estimated that up to 150,000 individuals from Korea lacking legal status, including adopted children, are among those who could be deported.

As an adult, Cho came to realise that the racism she had encountered when she was younger stemmed mainly from a knowledge gap, as many were unaware what it meant to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in the modern era, when I feel like the world and people should know better, it's deeply disheartening and sometimes I feel like there's a sense of despair," she says.

Due to this, it's particularly meaningful, she notes, that the film could bring "hope and joy and love to all these different communities".

"Perhaps this explains it's sort of like this movie of the summer, because there was a need for positivity and a unifying element all together."

The advancement of artificial intelligence is a major concern for the film industry, creating the potential that in future it could be used to produce a film like the animation.

Cho acknowledges she is aware that AI is already being used to copy actors' voices, but aims to "have hope in humanity" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Certainly, I'm sure there will be AI actors and singers. I'm aware they're already here. I know our 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 soundtrack appearing in the prestigious charts. It has its own fan art, and viewers around the world are calling for a follow-up.

She reveals she would like to confirm the question of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved will have to wait for the platform or the production company, which produced the movie, to approve the project.

"I'm aware rumors are circulating, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "So we shall see, and I believe fans everywhere would riot if there wasn't."

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