Discover the captivating life and career of Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, the talented Canadian actress who rose to fame with her breakout role in Netflix’s hit series, Never Have I Ever.
Wiki/Biography & Career
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, born on December 28, 2001, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, is a Capricorn. She completed her schooling at Trelawny Public School and Meadowvale Secondary School in Mississauga. Her acting journey began with the hugely popular Netflix series, “Never Have I Ever,” where she portrays the lead character, Devi Vishwakumar.
Selected from a pool of 15,000 applicants, her talent caught the eye of Mindy Kaling. This incredible opportunity led her to postpone her acceptance to York University’s theatre program. She may defer her studies further depending on future acting projects.
Physical Appearance
- Height: Approximately 5’6″
- Eye Color: Black
- Hair Color: Black
Family & Ethnicity
Maitreyi comes from a Sri Lankan Tamil family but strongly identifies as both Tamil and Canadian. She emphasizes the importance of her dual identity, stating that while her culture is Tamil, Canada is her home. Her family relocated to Canada as refugees following the Sri Lankan civil war (1983-2009).
Her father, Ram Selvarajah, works as an IT specialist, and her mother, Kiruthiha Kulendiren, is in marketing. She has an older brother, Vishwaa Ramakrishnan.
Favourite Things
Maitreyi’s diverse interests shine through her preferences:
| Category | Preference |
|---|---|
| Dessert | Donuts |
| Food | Pretzels |
| Actress | Mindy Kaling, Nayanthara |
| Singers | Rex Orange County, Childish Gambino, Doja Cat |
| Band | Panic! At The Disco |
| TV Shows | The Office, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation, When They See Us, Black Mirror |
| Movies | Chandramukhi, Get Out |
| Fictional Character | Hermione Granger |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Basketball Team | Toronto Raptors |
| Video Games | Nintendo, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Smash Bros. |
Facts/Trivia
Beyond acting, Maitreyi enjoys a wide array of hobbies, including:
- Playing the piano
- Painting
- Hiking
- Exploring art galleries
- Singing
- Riding her motorcycle
- Playing video games
Her multicultural upbringing is reflected in her skills, which include Bharatanatyam and ballet. She also plays the piano. Her passion for acting blossomed during high school, starting with school plays and progressing to writing, directing, and producing plays in her final year. She was also a member of a jazz band.
Initially aspiring to be an animator, her love for Disney and Marvel influenced her early career aspirations. However, her experiences in school productions led her to discover her true passion for acting.
Her activism includes participation in student walkout protests against proposed education cuts in 2019. That same year, she impressively created her audition tape for “Never Have I Ever” using her mother’s camera at a local library, ultimately securing the lead role after several rounds of auditions. Her best friend played a key role in encouraging her to audition.
Her casting generated considerable media attention, highlighting the open casting process and her unique Tamil Canadian identity. In 2019, The Today Show recognized her as “one of the eighteen Groundbreakers,” celebrating young women who are breaking barriers and making a difference.
