Maitreyi Ramakrishnan was born on December 28, 2001, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
She is a Canadian-Tamil actress best known for playing Devi Vishwakumar in the hit Netflix series Never Have I Ever.
She beat out more than 15,000 candidates from around the world to land the role, launching one of the most remarkable debut careers in recent television history.
Who is Maitreyi Ramakrishnan?
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is a Canadian actress of Tamil descent. She grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, and discovered her love of acting during high school.
Her breakthrough came when she was chosen by creator Mindy Kaling for the lead role in Never Have I Ever, a Netflix teen comedy-drama that ran from 2020 to 2023.
The show quickly became one of the most-watched series on the platform.
Since then, she has expanded her career into voice acting and feature films. She is now one of the most recognized young South Asian actresses in North America.
Her story is one of talent, timing, and a library camera that changed everything.
Early Life of Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Her parents are Tamil and came to Canada as refugees during the Sri Lankan Civil War, which lasted from 1983 to 2009.
Growing up, Maitreyi was surrounded by her Tamil heritage, though she has noted that she is not fluent in the Tamil language.
She describes herself as Tamil Canadian, not Sri Lankan. She has been open about the importance of her cultural identity and how it shapes her view of representation in media.
Her family settled in Mississauga, where they have remained. Maitreyi has spoken warmly about the support her family gave her when she decided to pursue acting.
She started acting in school plays in Grade 10 and quickly fell in love with the craft. Before that, she had dreamed of becoming an animator.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Age
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is 24 years old as of 2026, born on December 28, 2001. She has been active in the entertainment industry since 2019 and continues to take on new projects.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Ethnicity and Nationality
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is Canadian by nationality and Tamil by ethnicity. Her parents are Tamil people who originally came from Sri Lanka, not India.
She identifies strongly as Tamil Canadian and has spoken publicly about the importance of this distinction.
She is not Indian, despite the fact that she plays an Indian-American character on screen.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Height and Weight
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan stands at 5 feet 6 inches tall, which is approximately 167 centimeters. She weighs around 48 kilograms, or roughly 106 pounds.
Her slim build and confident screen presence have made her a natural fit for fashion partnerships as her career has grown.
She carries herself with a self-assurance on screen that has drawn comparisons to actresses far more senior in years.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Parents
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s parents are Ram Selvarajah and Kiruthiha Kulendiren. Both are Tamil and fled Sri Lanka during the country’s brutal civil war before settling in Canada.
Her father, Ram Selvarajah, works in information technology. Her mother, Kiruthiha Kulendiren, has a background in marketing communications.
Both parents have been described as deeply supportive of their daughter’s acting career. Maitreyi also has an older brother named Vishwaa Ramakrishnan.
Her close relationship with her family has been a regular theme in interviews she has given since rising to fame.
Her parents’ journey as refugees shaped the way she thinks about identity and belonging. That story of resilience and cultural pride runs through much of her public work.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Education
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan attended Trelawny Public School and later Meadowvale Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario.
It was at Meadowvale that she found her passion for acting through drama classes and school productions.
In her final year of high school, she made the decision to pursue a professional acting career.
She had been accepted into the theatre program at York University in Toronto, but deferred her admission after landing the role in Never Have I Ever.
Maitreyi switched her degree program to human rights and equity studies in 2021, explaining that she wanted to study something for the love of learning rather than career advancement. She ultimately graduated from York University in autumn 2025.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Career
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan entered the entertainment industry with no professional acting experience.
Her story began in 2019, when Mindy Kaling posted an open casting call on social media for a new Netflix series.
Audition and Breakthrough
Maitreyi filmed her audition tape at her local library using her mother’s camera. She was rehearsing for a school production of Chicago at the time and decided on a whim to try out.
Out of more than 15,000 applicants from around the world, she was selected. She traveled to Los Angeles for a screen test and was offered the lead role. She had just turned 17.
Never Have I Ever (2020–2023)
Never Have I Ever premiered on Netflix on April 27, 2020, and was immediately praised by critics and audiences alike.
Maitreyi played Devi Vishwakumar, a first-generation Indian-American teenager dealing with grief, identity, and the chaos of high school.
The show ran for four seasons and concluded in 2023. Maitreyi’s performance earned her widespread recognition as a fresh and authentic voice in teen drama.
In February 2021, Time magazine named her a Breakout Actor in its Time100 Next list of influential rising stars.
Voice Work and Film Projects
Maitreyi expanded her career into animation in 2022. She voiced the character Priya Mangal in Pixar‘s animated fantasy comedy Turning Red, released on Disney+ in March 2022.
That same year, she also voiced Zipp Storm in the Netflix animated series My Little Pony: Make Your Mark and My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale, which ran through 2024.
Recent Projects
In 2025, she made the leap into major feature films. She appeared as Ella in Freakier Friday, the Disney sequel starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, and played Brindha in Slanted, a satirical comedy-drama that premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest Festival to strong reviews.
Her 2026 slate includes a lead role in the Netflix romantic comedy The Netherfield Girls, a modern adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Best of The Best, a Netflix series, as well as a voice role in The Angry Birds Movie 3.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Boys | Countess Crow | TV Series |
| 2020 | Never Have I Ever | Devi Vishwakumar | TV Series |
| 2022 | Turning Red | Priya (voice) | Film |
| 2022–2024 | My Little Pony: Make Your Mark / Tell Your Tale | Zipp Storm (voice) | Animated Series |
| 2025 | Slanted | Brindha | Film |
| 2025 | Freakier Friday | Ella | Film |
| 2025 | The Twits | Beesha Balti (voice) | Film |
| 2025 | Best Of The Best | Priyanka Kedia | TV Series |
| 2026 | The Netherfield Girls | Lizzie Bennet | TV Series |
| 2026 | The Angry Birds Movie 3 | (voice) | Film |
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Awards and Recognition
She has collected several honors in a short career. In February 2021, she was named a Breakout Actor by Time magazine in its prestigious Time100 Next list of influential rising people.
She was also honored at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards, where she received the Radius Award from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
This award is given to a Canadian who has had a significant impact on the global cultural conversation.
In 2020, she was recognized at the Young Hollywood Awards as Breakout Actress.
Her performance in Never Have I Ever also earned the show a People’s Choice Award for Comedy Show of 2021, with Maitreyi at the center of that success.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Brand Endorsements
In March 2022, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan was announced as a brand ambassador for American Eagle, the clothing retailer.
She was part of the label’s “Member’s Always: Future Together” campaign alongside other young stars such as Madelyn Cline and Coco Gauff.
The partnership was a strong match for her image as an authentic, culturally grounded young woman. American Eagle has built its brand around celebrating diverse, real young voices.
Beyond American Eagle, her rising profile has made her a sought-after figure for fashion and beauty brands. Her income from endorsements has grown alongside her acting career.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Boyfriend
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan has kept her romantic life private. As of 2026, she has not publicly confirmed any relationship.
She has spoken in interviews about focusing on personal growth and her career rather than discussing her dating life. This boundary has been consistent throughout her time in the spotlight.
Her co-stars and colleagues have spoken warmly about her personality, but no confirmed romantic partner has been named publicly. Fans continue to follow her social media for any glimpses into her personal life.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Net Worth
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s estimated net worth is around $2 million as of 2026. Her wealth has grown steadily since her debut in Never Have I Ever in 2020.
Her income comes primarily from her acting career, including her lead role in the Netflix series and her more recent film appearances.
She has also added to her earnings through brand deals and endorsements, most notably her partnership with American Eagle.
Voice work for Pixar’s Turning Red and the My Little Pony animated series has contributed additional income.
As she transitions into larger film roles, her earning potential is expected to grow significantly.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Social Media
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is active on Instagram under the handle @maitreyiramakrishnan, where she shares updates from her projects, red carpet appearances, and personal moments.
She uses her platform to speak openly about South Asian representation and cultural identity. She is also on X (formerly Twitter), where she connects with fans and posts about her work.
Her tone on social media is warm, direct, and often funny, reflecting the personality that made audiences fall for her as Devi.
Her social media presence has become an important part of how she communicates with a global fan base that stretches far beyond Canada.
The Bottom Line
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan walked into a library with her mother’s camera and walked out with a career that few debut actors ever achieve.
She is still just getting started, and the best of what she has to offer is clearly still ahead.
