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This feature delves into extraordinary interviews and narratives from around the globe.

"{I hated that I had Asian features, that I lacked blue eyes and fair hair, because that's what was beautiful back then," says Arden Cho, who voiced the lead character in Netflix's highly successful animated film, the K-pop themed animation.

The performer, 40, recalls her childhood in Texas, as the eldest daughter of parents who emigrated from Korea and her journey toward belonging 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 accept her true nature as a hybrid being – and when Cho first saw the screenplay, this struck a deep chord.

"Growing up in the US, identifying as American but having people treat me like I'm not, grappling with my sense of self as an Korean-American, as a Korean-American, as a female," she says.

These were all components of her formative years that paralleled the character's path.

"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 influences your development and it seems I just didn't see enough people that shared my appearance."

When it debuted on the platform in the summer, KPop Demon Hunters achieved 33 million views in just 14 days, and secured the highest positions of the streaming rankings in 93 countries. To star in the first Hollywood animated film with a Korean setting, with Korean leads, was for Cho "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.

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

"In my view K-Pop has genuinely broken barriers. K-beauty has had a significant influence on Korea being loved. But I feel like the film is the one that tipped it over the edge, of, inspiring travel to Korea, now," Cho says.

But the film's success was uncertain and Cho says she felt the production crew were "occasionally struggling against odds".

"It seems it's unfortunate to say this, but any time there's an Asian-led project, people feel like it's a risk," she says.

So, when she took on the role, she took steps to meet everyone working on the film in person, she says.

The movie was launched against the backdrop of heightened enforcement actions in the United States as part of mass deportation efforts, which sparked protests in numerous regions.

As an person of Asian descent residing in America "it's heartbreaking and disappointing," she states. "Immigrants have made America what it is."

Korean news sources have suggested 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 understood that the prejudice she had experienced when she was younger was largely due to a lack of education, as many were unaware what it signified to be Korean or Asian.

"However today, in this day and age, when it seems the society and individuals ought to be more informed, it's deeply disheartening and at times I feel like there's a sense of despair," she expresses.

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

"Perhaps this explains it became the season's hit film, because we just needed positivity and something to unite us as one."

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

The actress says she is aware that technology is already being used to replicate actors' voices, but aims to "maintain faith in people" that individuals will still pursue human-made creativity.

"Sure, I believe they're going to have AI actors and singers. I'm aware they already exist. I understand performers' voices are already being manipulated, but I trust the public have some respect and desire for authentic creations."

The film has also been leading the international music rankings, with seven tracks from its soundtrack featured on the Billboard Hot 100. It has its own fan creations, and audiences globally are demanding a sequel.

She tells us she would like to confirm the inquiry of if a sequel is planned – but both everyone involved 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, I've heard wonderful things," she says. "Only time will tell, and I think everyone in the world would protest if there wasn't."

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