From Heartbreak to Hollywood Stardom: Arden Cho's Golden Moment Arrives

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LOS ANGELES - Arden Cho's journey to stardom has been a long and winding road. Three years ago, she was on the verge of giving up on acting after her Netflix series 'Partner Track' was canceled after just one season. But her agent refused to let her quit, and Cho's perseverance eventually paid off. Today, Cho is basking in the glory of her breakthrough role as Rumi in Netflix's animated hit 'KPop Demon Hunters,' which has become the platform's most-streamed movie. The film's soundtrack, featuring the catchy tunes 'Golden' and 'Soda Pop,' has dominated pop charts, and Cho's voice has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. Cho sees a lot of herself in Rumi, a K-pop idol who loses her voice and must find a new way to connect with the world. 'I am so ready,' Cho said, reflecting on her golden moment. 'It feels like it is my golden moment.' Cho's success has been a long time coming. Growing up in Texas and Minnesota, she struggled to find roles that showcased her talents. But after attending college at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she began to realize the importance of representation in media. 'I realized that was the first time when I was like, oh, people look at me and don’t think that I’m an American,' she recalled. Determined to make a name for herself, Cho moved to Los Angeles in 2007 and landed her first major role as a superpowered Kira Yukimura on MTV's 'Teen Wolf' series in 2014. But it was her role as Rumi in 'KPop Demon Hunters' that truly catapulted her to stardom. The film's producer, Michelle Wong, says Cho was the unanimous choice for the role after a blind 'listen test' narrowed down the finalists to six actors. 'Our movie is dramatic, it’s action, it’s comedy, it’s everything. The talent needs to be at the highest level, which you know, Arden obviously encapsulates all of that,' Wong said. Cho's success has also sparked a fresh wave of interest in Korean food, culture, and K-pop idol life. As she celebrates her 40th birthday, Cho says she's never felt younger and more confident. 'I think for women, sometimes people get shy to say that because they kind of think 40 is old,' she said. 'But I have never felt younger and better about myself. I’ve never felt more comfortable in my skin.' For more on AP's 2025 class of Breakthrough Entertainers, visit /hub/ap-breakthrough-entertainers.