Maitreyi Ramakrishnan

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Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Ramakrishnan in 2021
Born (2001-12-28) 28 December 2001 (age 22)
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActress
Years active2019–present

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (/maɪˈtreɪi ˌrɑːməˈkrɪʃnən/ my-TRAY-ee RAH-mə-KRISH-nən;[1][2] born 28 December 2001)[3] is a Canadian actress. She is known for her leading role as high school student Devi Vishwakumar in the Netflix teen comedy series Never Have I Ever (2020–2023) and for her voice role in the Pixar film Turning Red (2022).

Early life and education[edit]

Ramakrishnan was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario. She was born to Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu parents who immigrated to Canada as refugees due to the Sri Lankan Civil War.[4][5][6][7][8] She identifies herself as Tamil Canadian rather than Sri Lankan.[6][9] She went to Lisgar Middle School for elementary and graduated from Meadowvale Secondary School.[10]

Ramakrishnan made the decision to pursue an acting career in her last year at Meadowvale, and got the role in the Netflix teen romance series Never Have I Ever less than a year after.[4] She deferred her acceptance to the theatre program at York University in Toronto, which she had initially planned to attend the fall after she graduated high school, so she could shoot the series in Los Angeles.[11] In 2021, she deferred her acceptance a second time, while also switching her degree to human rights and equity studies.[12]

Career[edit]

Ramakrishnan made her professional acting debut as Devi Vishwakumar, the protagonist, in the Netflix teen comedy streaming television series Never Have I Ever.[10][13] In 2019, she was chosen by Mindy Kaling out of 15,000 candidates who had applied for an open casting call for the show.[14] Ramakrishnan created her audition tape at a local library, using her mother's camera, eventually being asked to send four more videos, before having a screen test in Los Angeles and being offered the role.[15] Ramakrishnan was 17 at the time of her casting and had not acted professionally.[15] She revealed in an interview that she grew up watching Indian actor Vijay in the Indian Tamil-language film Pokkiri, which influenced her to consider an acting career.[16] Her casting received significant media attention,[17] especially in Canada,[18] due to the nature of the open casting call and for her Tamil Canadian identity.[19] That year, Today named her one of eighteen "Groundbreakers" on the International Day of The Girl, a list of girls who were breaking down barriers and "changing the world".[20]

In April 2020, Never Have I Ever premiered on Netflix.[21] Ramakrishnan's character, Devi Vishwakumar, an Indian-American Tamil high school student, is loosely based on Mindy Kaling.[22] The program ran for four seasons until June 2023.[23] The series and Ramakrishnan's performance received generally positive reviews,[24] with Variety calling it a "breakout performance".[25] She received nominations for an Independent Spirit Award, a Canadian Screen Award, an MTV Movie & TV Award, and two People's Choice Awards.[26] In July 2020, Netflix reported the series had been viewed by 40 million households globally since its release.[27] In May, Ramakrishnan participated in the live-read series Acting for a Cause, appearing as Olivia for a live staged reading of William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, to help raise money for a local hospital in Chicago, which was struggling to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.[28] Later that month, she hosted the livestream segment of the Children's and Youth Programming Category for the 8th Canadian Screen Awards.[29] In February 2021, Ramakrishnan was named as Breakout Actor in Time's Time 100 Next list of the next hundred rising, influential people.[30]

Ramakrishnan voiced Priya Mangal, an Indian-Canadian mellow, deadpan girl who is one of the protagonist's friends, in the Pixar animated fantasy comedy film Turning Red.[31] The film was released on 11 March 2022 to Disney+ and limited theaters.[32] Ramakrishnan voiced Zipp Storm throughout the content slate for the fifth incarnation of the My Little Pony franchise.[33] The first project, the 2D animated short-form web series, My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale, premiered via YouTube in early April.[34] She also voiced the character for the CGI-animated Netflix series, My Little Pony: Make Your Mark, which premiered in September and was preceded by a special of the same name in May.[35][36] The series ran for six "chapters" until November 2023.[37] Also in April 2022, Ramakrishnan received the honorary Radius Award from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards, for her global impact on television.[38][39] In November, she appeared in a Netflix holiday special tied to the Make Your Mark series, titled My Little Pony: Winter Wishday.[40][41] It was followed by the third and fourth specials, My Little Pony: Bridlewoodstock and Secrets of Starlight, in June and November 2023.[42][37] In October 2023, Ramakrishnan had a guest voice role on the adult animated sitcom Big Mouth as Marissa, the new love interest and neighbour of the young fictional version of series co-creator Andrew Goldberg.[43]

Ramakrishnan will star in the upcoming Netflix romantic comedy film The Netherfield Girls, a contemporary adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice, marking her film debut.[44]

Other activities[edit]

Endorsements[edit]

In March 2022, Ramakrishnan fronted the spring campaign, "Member's Always: Future Together", for clothing retailer American Eagle, alongside Madelyn Cline, Joshua Bassett, Michael Evans Behling, Coco Gauff, and Mxmtoon.[45][46]

Activism and philanthropy[edit]

In October 2020, Ramakrishnan became a global ambassador for humanitarian organization Plan International Canada, to promote girls and women's rights and gender equality.[47][48] She starred in the 2021 campaign for clothing brand Nobis's #NoColdShoulder initiative, which focuses on collecting and donating used jackets every November.[49][50]

Filmography[edit]

Key
† Denotes films and series that have not yet been released

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2022 Turning Red Priya Mangal Voice role
TBA The Netherfield Girls† Lizzie Bennet In development [44]

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2020–2023 Never Have I Ever Devi Vishwakumar Main role
2022–present My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale Zipp Storm (voice) [41]
2022 My Little Pony: Make Your Mark (special) Television special [41]
2022–2023 My Little Pony: Make Your Mark Main role
2022 My Little Pony: Winter Wishday Television special [41]
2023 My Little Pony: Birdlewoodstoock
Big Mouth Marissa (voice) Episode: "Get the F**k Outta My House" [51]
My Little Pony: Secrets of Starlight Zipp Storm (voice) Television special

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2021 Independent Spirit Award Best Female Performance in a New Scripted Series Never Have I Ever Nominated [52]
2021 Canadian Screen Awards Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award Nominated [53]
2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Kiss (with Jaren Lewison) Nominated [54]
2021 Unforgettable Awards Gala Breakout in TV Herself Honored [55]
2022 Canadian Screen Awards Radius Award Herself Honored [38]
2022 People's Choice Awards The Female TV Star of 2022 Never Have I Ever Nominated [56]
The Comedy TV Star of 2022 Nominated

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ The Cast of Never Have I Ever Reveal Their Worst Dates, Celeb Crushes, and More | Back To School. Seventeen. 30 April 2020. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2021 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ Maitreyi Ramakrishnan [@ramakrishnannn] (22 July 2021). "had to take this voice memo 18490174 times because there's a lot to say [...]" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Bird, Michele (18 May 2021). "Here's Everything We Know About "Never Have I Ever" Actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan So Far". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b Simonpillai, Radheyan (29 August 2019). "Meet the Tamil-Canadian starring in Mindy Kaling's Netflix series". NOW Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 May 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Get Used To Saying Maitreyi Ramakrishnan's Name". HuffPost Canada. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Meet Maitreyi Ramakrishnan: Star of Mindy Kaling's New Netflix Series". Brown Girl Magazine. 16 November 2019. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  7. ^ "I'm pushing 40, but this show about a South Asian teenage girl is what I've always craved". Metro. 16 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and musician Priya Ragu connect over their shared Eelam Tamil heritage". Vogue India. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  9. ^ Mallinson, Tilda (12 May 2020). "Who is Maitreyi Ramakrishnan? 13 facts about the Never Have I Ever star". Evening Standard. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  10. ^ a b Schneller, Johanna (20 April 2020). "How one Mississauga teen beat out 15,000 other girls to star in Mindy Kaling's new Netflix series Never Have I Ever". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  11. ^ Ahearn, Victoria. "Tamil-Canadian Maitreyi Ramakrishnan on being a role model with 'Never Have I Ever'". Tri-City News. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  12. ^ Ahearn, Victoria (12 July 2021). "Never Have I Ever's Maitreyi Ramakrishnan shot to stardom in a pandemic". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  13. ^ Simonpillai, Radheyan (14 April 2020). "Maitreyi Ramakrishnan talks TikTok drama, sex and embracing Tamil culture". NOW Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 May 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  14. ^
    1. Nath, Ishani (19 November 2019). "Mindy Kaling Chose This Canadian Actor out of 15,000 Candidates". Fashion. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
    2. "'Be that change': Maitreyi Ramakrishnan on starring in Mindy Kaling's new comedy". CBC News. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  15. ^ a b Roy, Natasha (28 April 2020). "Maitreyi Ramakrishnan tackles Desi American teenhood in Mindy Kaling's new Netflix series". NBC News. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  16. ^ K, Janani (14 June 2023). "Never Have I Ever's Maitreyi says she grew up watching Vijay's Pokkiri". India Today. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  17. ^ Karounos, Patricia (7 September 2019). "Meet Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, the Canadian Teen Cast in Mindy Kaling's New Netflix Series". Elle Canada. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  18. ^
    1. "These were the stories that got Toronto talking in 2019". CBC News. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
    2. "Canadian teen nabs lead role in upcoming Mindy Kaling comedy for Netflix". CBC News. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
    3. Shea, Courtney (10 September 2019). "Meet the Mississauga teen who beat out 15,000 actors to star in Mindy Kaling's new show". Toronto Life. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  19. ^
    1. Bremang, Kathleen Newman (20 March 2020). "Meet Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, The Canadian Teen About To Take Over Netflix". Refinery29. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
    2. Sarner, Lauren (17 April 2020). "How Mindy Kaling's Netflix show 'Never Have I Ever' found its star". New York Post. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
    3. Jaime, Angie (6 April 2020). ""Never Have I Ever" Will Have Real, Messy Teenhood". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  20. ^
  21. ^ Shafer, Ellise (15 April 2023). "TV News Roundup: Netflix Releases 'Never Have I Ever' Trailer (Watch)". Variety. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  22. ^ Thapa, Shaurya (10 May 2020). "Never Have I Ever: 7 Things That Are Actually Based On Mindy Kaling's Life (& 5 That Are Not)". Screen Rant. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  23. ^ Cordero, Rosy (9 May 2023). "'Never Have I Ever' Drops Official Trailer For Fourth & Final Season — Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  24. ^
  25. ^ Framke, Caroline (20 April 2020). "Netflix's 'Never Have I Ever' From Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  26. ^
    1. Sharf, Zack (19 April 2021). "2021 Spirit Awards Nominations List: 'Never Rarely' Dominates with 7 Noms, 'Minari' Strong". IndieWire. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
    2. "2021 CSA Audience Choice Award Nominees". ET Canada. 16 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
    3. Thiessen, Brock (30 March 2021). "Here Are All the Canadian Screen Awards 2021 Nominees". Exclaim!. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
    4. Brathwaite, Lester Fabian (6 December 2022). "2022 People's Choice Awards: See the full list of winners". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  27. ^ Patten, Dominic (16 July 2020). "Netflix Reveals Strong Viewership Numbers For Mindy Kaling's 'Never Have I Ever' & Spike Lee's 'Da 5 Bloods' In Earnings Report". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  28. ^ Thorne, Will (22 May 2020). "Ruby Rose, 'Never Have I Ever' Star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan to Perform 'Twelfth Night' Play Reading for Charity". Variety. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  29. ^ Furdyk, Brent (26 May 2020). "Canadian Screen Awards: Winners Revealed In Lifestyle And Reality, Children's And Youth Categories". ET Canada. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  30. ^ Kaling, Mindy (17 February 2021). "2021 TIME100 Next: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan". Time 100 Next. Time. Time USA, LLC. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  31. ^
    1. "Disney • Pixar: Turning Red". Pixar Animation Studios. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
    2. Fernandez, Marriska (10 March 2022). "Maitreyi Ramakrishnan on 'Turning Red', Her Inner Beast, and Toronto Love". Complex Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
    3. Docto, Isabelle (10 March 2022). ""Turning Red": Mississauga's Maitreyi Ramakrishnan chats about her first Pixar film". Daily Hive. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
    4. Simonpillai, Radheyan (17 November 2021). "Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is in Domee Shi's Toronto Pixar movie Turning Red". Now. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  32. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (7 January 2022). "Pixar's 'Turning Red' Skips Theaters & Heads To Disney+". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  33. ^ "My Little Pony to "Make Its Mark" in 2022 With Nearly 500 Minutes of New Content Across Two Series and Two TV Specials!". Entertainment One. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  34. ^ Tuchow, Ryan (18 February 2022). "Hasbro saddles up new My Little Pony content". KidScreen. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  35. ^ Ng, Philiana (12 May 2022). "'My Little Pony: Make Your Mark': Watch Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in the Colorful Trailer (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  36. ^ Nealy, Devin (26 May 2022). "Exclusive Interview: "My Little Pony: Make Your Mark" star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan". Boing Boing. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  37. ^ a b "'My Little Pony' Reveals 'Secrets of Starlight', New 'Make Your Mark' Episodes". Animation Magazine. 21 November 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  38. ^ a b Ramachandran, Naman (18 January 2022). "'Never Have I Ever' Star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Broadcasters Bob Cole, Rassi Nashalik Among Canadian Academy Special Award Honorees". Variety. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  39. ^ Vlessing, Etan (18 January 2022). "Maitreyi Ramakrishnan to Receive Canadian Screen Awards Special Honor". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  40. ^ Hullender, Tatiana (11 November 2022). "My Little Pony: Winter Wishday Trailer Promises Holiday Magic [EXCLUSIVE]". Screen Rant. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  41. ^ a b c d Drum, Nicole (20 February 2022). "My Little Pony Sets Premiere Dates for New Netflix Series and More". ComicBook.com. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  42. ^ Tyrrell, Caitlin (16 May 2023). "My Little Pony: Bridlewoodstock Trailer Introduces Sofia Wylie [EXCLUSIVE]". Screen Rant. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  43. ^ Heinlein, Grace (24 October 2023). "Every Cameo In Big Mouth Season 7". Screen Rant. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  44. ^ a b Rubin, Rebecca (2 June 2021). "'Never Have I Ever' Actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan to Star in Netflix Rom-Com 'The Netherfield Girls' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  45. ^ Pawa, Vandana (2 March 2022). "Madelyn Cline, Joshua Bassett, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan & More Front American Eagle's "Members Always" Campaign". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  46. ^ "American Eagle Debuts Spring '22 Members Always Campaign, Emphasizing Community Through Boundless Experiences for Everyone". Business Wire. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  47. ^ Pal, Divya (23 October 2020). "Girls Deserve Basic Human Rights, Says Plan International Canada's Newest Global Ambassador Maitreyi Ramakrishnan". News18. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  48. ^ Verveer, Melanee (6 January 2021). "Actor Maitreyi Ramakrishnan on Diversity and Gender Equality". Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  49. ^ "Luxury Canadian Outerwear Brand, Nobis Announces Return of #nocoldshoulder Charity Initiative this Winter". CNW Group. Nobis. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  50. ^ "Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Partners With Nobis on 'No Cold Shoulder' Initiative". The RepresentAsian Project. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  51. ^ ""Big Mouth" Fans: Get To Know The Faces Behind The Voices Of Your Favourite Characters". buzzfeed.com. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  52. ^ Lewis, Hilary (26 January 2021). "Film Independent Spirit Awards: 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always', 'Minari', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom', 'Nomadland' Top Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  53. ^ "2021 CSA Audience Choice Award Nominees". ET Canada, 16 March 2021.
  54. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (19 April 2021). "MTV Movie & TV Awards Nominations: 'Emily In Paris', 'WandaVision' & 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Lead Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  55. ^ Ng, Philiana (3 November 2021). "Simu Liu, Sandra Oh and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan to Be Honored at 2021 Unforgettable Awards Gala (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  56. ^ Malec, Brett (7 December 2022). "People's Choice Awards 2022 Winners: The Complete List". E! Online. Retrieved 11 May 2023.

External links[edit]

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