Biography
Who is Maudy Ayunda?
Early life and education
Born Ayunda Faza Maudya in Jakarta, Indonesia, she developed an early interest in reading. She began learning to read at age three and was often found quietly reading during family events. Her educational path included attendance at the Mentari Intercultural School and the British School Jakarta, where she served as student council head. During her youth, she faced challenges adapting to an English-speaking environment but successfully completed her studies.
After finishing high school, she pursued a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of Oxford, graduating with honors. Later, she continued her academic path in the United States, earning dual degrees in education and business administration from Stanford University. She has often described education as a personal refuge where she takes full accountability for her own success or failure.
Acting and film career
Maudy Ayunda made her professional debut in the 2005 film Untuk Rena, where she played the lead role of Rena. This early start earned her recognition, including a Best Actress award at the Jakarta Film Festival. She later gained significant attention for her work in the film adaptation of the novel Perahu Kertas, where she portrayed the character Kugy. This performance was widely noted by audiences and critics alike.
Her filmography expanded throughout the years with roles in various genres. She appeared in the sports movie Tendangan dari Langit and the musical film Rumah Tanpak Jendela. In 2019, she starred as Hasri Ainun Habibie in the biographical film Habibie Ainun 3, directed by Hanung Bramantyo. Beyond live-action, she also provided voice work for the animated film Battle of Surabaya.
Musical achievements
In addition to her acting work, she has released multiple studio albums. Her debut album, Panggil Aku, came out in 2011 and featured the song Tiba-tiba Cinta Datang. She continued to release music, including the album Moments in 2015, which achieved Multi-Platinum certification after selling over 200,000 copies. Her third studio album, Oxygen, was released in 2018 and received nominations at the Anugerah Musik Indonesia awards.
She has frequently contributed to film soundtracks as both a singer and a songwriter. For the film Sang Pemimpi, she sang Mengejar Mimpi. She also performed the Indonesian version of the song How Far I’ll Go for the Disney film Moana. Her collaborations include a duet with Korean-American singer David Choi on the track By My Side, which received an award nomination.
Writing and advocacy
Her interests extend to authorship and social advocacy. At age 11, she published a collection of short stories titled A Forest of Fables, with proceeds donated to victims of the Aceh tsunami. She later published the book Dear Tomorrow: Notes to My Future Self, which covers her thoughts on career, dreams, and personal mindset. She also wrote bilingual children's books titled Kina's Story.
Maudy is involved in initiatives focused on youth empowerment and education in Indonesia. She seeks to foster impactful changes through these platforms. Her work in these areas, combined with her artistic contributions, has led to recognition on lists such as Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 and various industry accolades.
Birthday and age
Maudy Ayunda was born on December 19, 1994, which makes Maudy 31 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Maudy shares the date with 59 other famous people.
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