Arden Cho

Arden Lim Cho (born August 16, 1985) is an American actress and model. Cho first gained recognition by portraying Kira Yukimura in the MTV series Teen Wolf (2013–2016), as well as her several YouTube collaborations. She has since starred in several Netflix projects, including the legal drama series Partner Track, the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024), and the lead speaking role of Rumi in the Sony Pictures Animation film KPop Demon Hunters (2025).

Early life Cho was born on August 16, 1985, in Amarillo, Texas, to South Korean immigrant parents, and was raised in San Antonio and Plano, Texas.

Cho attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with the intention of becoming a lawyer. She took her first drama classes there and developed an interest in the acting profession. There, she also became more exposed to Asian American culture at large. She then moved to Los Angeles, where she worked odd jobs while trying to pursue a career in acting. Although she did not have any screen credits at the time, her first agent took her on due to her resume of musical and physical talents, which included ballet, cello, and piano. In 2008, Cho played the grown-up lead of Hyori (the younger version being played by Megan Lee) in the short film My First Crush, directed by Rocky Jo.

In 2011, she appeared in the role of Pru, a friend of Paige McCullers in the season 1 episode "Someone to Watch Over Me" of the ABC Family show Pretty Little Liars. She also appeared in the role of Gia in the monster film Mega Python vs. Gatoroid, directed by Mary Lambert. In 2014, Cho joined the TV series Teen Wolf as Kira, starting as a recurring character in the series's third season. She was promoted to a main cast role in the fourth season. In April 2016, ahead of her talk at University of Illinois at Chicago for Asian American Awareness Month, Cho posted a YouTube video on her personal channel revealing that she would not return for the sixth season of Teen Wolf. In 2017, Cho was cast as a recurring character on season 3 of Chicago Med as Dr. Ethan Choi's sister.

Beginning in 2022, Cho starred in several projects for Netflix, including the lead role of Ingrid Yun in the television series Partner Track, which lasted for one season. She later said that its cancellation left her dispirited, as she "thought that was going to be my moment, then it wasn't. I pretty much quit the business and retired." She appeared as June in the 2024 live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, after which she took a hiatus lasting a year and a half, much of which she spent traveling. Cho auditioned the role of Rumi in the Netflix animated musical film KPop Demon Hunters, attracted by the film's Korean subject. She had intended it to be her final project but found the making of it motivated her to continue acting. Upon its release in 2025, KPop Demon Hunters was a major hit, becoming Netflix's most watched animated film of all time by July 2025 and eventually Netflix's most-watched film ever at 236million views by August, surpassing Red Notice (2021). Cho received a number of honors, including the Annie Award, for her performance as Rumi.

Cho was included in the "100 Most Powerful Women in 2025" list by Forbes. In 2026, she was included in Gold House's "100 Asia-Pacific Leaders with the Greatest Cultural Impact in the World" list.

YouTube Cho was previously a part of the "Artichoke and Peachies" joint YouTube blogging channel with Grace Su. The account has since been shut down. She has also appeared in the web series KTown Cowboys. She has her own YouTube channel, ardenBcho, with over 300 videos, predominantly featuring vlogging, song covers, and original music videos. She had over 531,000 subscribers as of May 2025. In July 2025, Cho collaborated with actor and singer Cha Eun-woo on an acoustic cover of "Free", a song from KPop Demon Hunters.

Modeling Cho won the 2004 Miss Korea Chicago competition, giving her the opportunity to take part in the Miss Korea Pageant in Seoul. Cho modeled for Reebok Korea in 2010 and for Nike Japan in 2008. She has also modeled for Apple and Alexander McQueen and appeared in Vogue, Purple Fashion and Nylon Magazine.

Music In 2010, Cho and Ktown Cowboys actor Shane Yoon were the MCs for the Korean music group JYJ's tour in the United States. In 2011, Cho released her first single, "I'm Just a Girl". Cho had plans to tour her debut EP My True Happy in 2013 before landing a recurring role on Teen Wolf. Her biggest live cash was in January 2024 at the PGT Championship $1,000,000 freeroll: she came in second, winning $200,000.

On February 6, 2019, it was announced that Cho had become CEO of Leonard & Church, a New York City-based watch company. The company closed in 2020.

Personal life Cho is a Christian. Cho announced her wedding plans to her fiancé to People magazine in April 2025. She married her orthopedic surgeon husband, Christopher Lee, in Florence, Italy, over the weekend of June 27, 2026.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2010 Agents of Secret Stuff Taylor Short film 2011 Mega Python vs. Gatoroid Gia 2012 Picture Perfect Short film 2013 The Baytown Outlaws Angel 2016 Stuck Alicia Also associate producer 2018 The Honor List Honor Liang 2025 KPop Demon Hunters Rumi Speaking voice 2026 The Last House Adult Ruth Speaking voiceTBA Post-production Post-production; also producer

Television Year Title Role Notes 2008 MADtv Season 13, episode 11 2009 CSI: NY Gahee Paik Episode: "Communication Breakdown" 2011 Pretty Little Liars Pru Episode: "Someone to Watch Over Me" Rizzoli & Isles Lee Episode: "My Own Worst Enemy" 2012 Walking the Halls Kylie Television film 2014–2016 Teen Wolf Kira Yukimura Recurring role (season 3); main role (seasons 4–5) 2014 Castle KiaraEpisode: "The Way of the Ninja" 2015 Hawaii Five-0 Mia Price Episode: "Kuka'awale (Stakeout)" 2016 Tween Fest Lexii C. Main role 2017 Freakish Tonya Guest role; 2 episodes 2017–2018 Miss 2059 Arden Young Main role (season 2) 2018–2019 Chicago Med Emily Choi Recurring role 2022 Partner Track Ingrid Yun Main role 2024 Avatar: The Last Airbender June 2 episodes

Video games Year Title Voice role 2013 Tomb Raider Samantha Nishimura / Stephanie / Sun Queen

Web series Year Title Role Notes 2010 KTown Cowboys Sarah 2012 Video Game High School Korean TV hostess Episode: "Shot Heard Round the World"

Music video appearances YearTitleArtist(s)2014"Write it in the Sky" (Ken Loi Remix)

Theatre Year Title Role Notes 2024 Maybe Happy Ending Jiyeon Video footage

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2025Alliance of Women Film JournalistsFemale Focus: Best Voice Performances in Animated FilmKPop Demon Hunters Asia Artist Awards Best Voice Performance Associated PressBreakthrough Entertainers of the Year Atlanta Film Critics Circle Best Voice Performance Austin Film Critics Association Best Voice Acting / Animated / Digital Performance St. Louis Film Critics Association Best Vocal Performance Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Voice Performance 2026 Annie Awards Best Voice Acting – Feature Astra Film Awards Best Voice Over Performance Denver Film Critics Society Best Non-Live Action Performance North Carolina Film Critics Association Best Voice Performance In Animation or Mixed Media The Online Film & Television Association Best Voice-Over Performance Pittsburgh Film Critics Association Best Animated Voice Performance