Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Bio: Age, Early Life, Career, Movies & More
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is a Canadian actress known for her breakout role as Devi Vishwakumar. She played Devi in Netflix’s popular teen comedy-drama Never Have I Ever.
The actress quickly became one of the most recognizable young South Asian stars in Hollywood. Her career also expanded into animation and feature films.
Ramakrishnan later voiced Priya Mangal in Pixar’s Turning Red. She also voiced Zipp Storm in the My Little Pony franchise.
More recently, she appeared in Freakier Friday and The Boys. She also leads Netflix’s upcoming comedy Best of the Best.
As of 2026, her career continues to move across television, film, and animation.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Age and Birthday
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan was born on December 28, 2001, in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. She grew up in the Meadowvale area of Mississauga.
She comes from a Sri Lankan Tamil family and identifies as Tamil Canadian. Her parents immigrated to Canada as refugees during Sri Lanka’s civil war.
Her multicultural upbringing later influenced her perspective on identity and representation.
Ramakrishnan attended Meadowvale Secondary School. She initially planned to attend York University after completing high school.
However, her acting opportunity changed those plans.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s Early Life and Education
Ramakrishnan did not grow up as a child actor. Instead, she discovered her interest in acting during her final year of high school.
She initially planned to study theatre at York University in Toronto. However, her casting in Never Have I Ever forced her to reconsider that timeline.
She deferred her university acceptance so she could film the Netflix series.
Later, she switched her intended program to human rights and equity studies. She eventually graduated from York University in 2025.
Therefore, education remained important to her even as her acting career developed.
How Did Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Become Famous?
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s breakthrough came through an unusual audition process.
In 2019, Mindy Kaling announced an open casting call for Never Have I Ever. The production searched for a South Asian actress between approximately 15 and 18 years old.
Ramakrishnan submitted a self-taped audition with help from her high school friends.
She ultimately beat approximately 15,000 other applicants for the role of Devi Vishwakumar.
At the time, she had no professional television experience.
The casting decision quickly attracted attention because Ramakrishnan became the lead of a major Netflix series.
Her story also stood out because she represented a Tamil Canadian perspective in mainstream television.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi Vishwakumar
In 2020, Ramakrishnan made her television debut in Never Have I Ever.
The series came from creators Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher. It follows Devi Vishwakumar, an academically ambitious teenager navigating grief, friendships, family, romance, and cultural expectations.
Ramakrishnan carried the central role throughout the show’s four seasons.
Her performance introduced her to audiences around the world.
The character also became closely associated with her early career.
However, Ramakrishnan’s career eventually expanded beyond Devi. She took on animation, film, and other television roles.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever became a defining project in Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s career.
The show explored the experiences of a South Asian American teenager without reducing her identity to one cultural stereotype.
Ramakrishnan has frequently discussed the importance of authentic representation.
Her performance also helped establish her as a young actress capable of handling comedy and emotional storytelling.
The series ended after four seasons in 2023.
Even after the finale, Devi remained the role most closely connected to Ramakrishnan’s name.
However, the actress continued building a broader filmography.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in Turning Red
Ramakrishnan expanded into voice acting with Pixar’s Turning Red.
She voiced Priya Mangal, one of Mei Lee’s closest friends.
The animated film premiered in 2022 and featured an Asian-led cast.
Ramakrishnan recorded her audition from her bedroom in Mississauga. The opportunity gave her a new experience outside live-action television.
Her role also demonstrated her ability to build a character through voice performance.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and My Little Pony
Ramakrishnan also joined the My Little Pony universe.
She voiced Zipp Storm, a royal Pegasus character.
Her voice work appeared across My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale and My Little Pony: Make Your Mark.
The role introduced her to a younger audience.
It also showed the range of her career beyond teen dramas.
Ramakrishnan’s animation work became an important part of her professional development.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s Movies and TV Shows
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan has developed a diverse screen career since her debut.
Her notable credits include:
- Never Have I Ever — Devi Vishwakumar
- Turning Red — Priya Mangal
- My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale — Zipp Storm
- My Little Pony: Make Your Mark — Zipp Storm
- Big Mouth — Marissa
- Slanted — Brindha
- Lost in Starlight — Nan-young, English dub
- Freakier Friday — Ella
- The Twits — Beesha Balti
- The Boys — Countess Crow
- Best of the Best — Maya
Her film career has therefore expanded considerably since Never Have I Ever.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in Freakier Friday
In 2025, Ramakrishnan appeared in Disney’s Freakier Friday.
She played Ella, a young pop star managed by Anna Coleman.
The film starred Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan. It continued the story from the original 2003 comedy.
Disney confirmed Ramakrishnan as part of the film’s ensemble cast.
The project gave her another opportunity to work within a major Hollywood studio production.
It also moved her further into mainstream feature filmmaking.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in The Boys
Ramakrishnan later appeared in the fifth season of The Boys.
She played Countess Crow, a member of the teenage superhero group Teenage Kix.
This role represented another change from her earlier teen comedy work.
It also allowed her to enter a darker superhero universe.
Her expanding television credits show her willingness to explore different genres.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan in Best of the Best
In 2026, Ramakrishnan took on a leading role in Netflix’s Best of the Best.
She plays Maya, one of two childhood best friends at the center of the story.
Maya and Anjali, played by Priyanka Kedia, join UCLA’s competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team.
The story follows their journey toward the United States championship.
Netflix describes the movie as a coming-of-age comedy focused on friendship, sisterhood, and competition.
The film arrives on Netflix on September 18, 2026.
The cast also includes Hasan Minhaj, Janina Gavankar, Lilly Singh, and Ankur Rathee.
The project gives Ramakrishnan another major leading role after her breakthrough as Devi.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan and Representation
Representation remains an important part of Ramakrishnan’s public career.
Growing up, she did not often see characters who reflected her own background.
Her success therefore carries significance for many South Asian viewers.
She has spoken about the need for authentic representation rather than token casting.
At the same time, she has emphasized that South Asian stories can also succeed simply because they tell compelling stories.
Her work demonstrates that cultural identity can exist alongside universal themes.
These themes include friendship, family, ambition, romance, and growing up.
What Is Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Known For?
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is best known for playing Devi Vishwakumar in Never Have I Ever.
She is also recognized for her voice role as Priya in Turning Red.
Her other notable work includes the My Little Pony franchise and Freakier Friday.
In 2026, Best of the Best represents another important stage in her career.
The film places her at the center of a story about competitive dance and friendship.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s Career Beyond Never Have I Ever
Ramakrishnan’s career has gradually moved beyond the role that made her famous.
She has worked in live-action comedy, animation, family entertainment, and superhero television.
That variety has helped her avoid becoming associated with only one type of character.
Her recent projects also show a growing interest in feature films.
Meanwhile, her continued work in television keeps her connected to the medium that launched her career.
As a result, her filmography continues to expand across different audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maitreyi Ramakrishnan
How old is Maitreyi Ramakrishnan?
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan was born on December 28, 2001. Therefore, she is 24 years old in 2026.
Where is Maitreyi Ramakrishnan from?
She was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
What is Maitreyi Ramakrishnan famous for?
She became famous for playing Devi Vishwakumar in Netflix’s Never Have I Ever.
Is Maitreyi Ramakrishnan Tamil?
Yes. Ramakrishnan identifies as Tamil Canadian and comes from a Sri Lankan Tamil family.
What movies has Maitreyi Ramakrishnan been in?
Her movie credits include Turning Red, Slanted, Lost in Starlight, Freakier Friday, The Twits, and Best of the Best.
What is Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s newest movie?
Her 2026 Netflix movie is Best of the Best. She stars as Maya alongside Priyanka Kedia.
Did Maitreyi Ramakrishnan go to university?
Yes. She attended York University and graduated in 2025. She studied human rights and equity studies.
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan’s Career Today
Maitreyi Ramakrishnan has come a long way since her first audition in 2019.
She entered Hollywood without professional acting experience.
Within a few years, she became the face of a major Netflix series.
She then expanded into animated films, children’s television, feature films, and genre television.
Her upcoming role in Best of the Best continues that career expansion in 2026.
The film also places her in a story centered on South Asian culture and competitive Bollywood-fusion dance.
For Ramakrishnan, the next stage of her career offers opportunities to explore different characters.
Her growing filmography suggests that her work now extends well beyond the character who first made her famous.
From Devi Vishwakumar to Maya, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan continues to build her identity as a versatile Canadian actress.
