Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (born December 28, 2001) is a Canadian actress who gained widespread recognition for her role as Devi Vishwakumar in the Netflix teen comedy series Never Have I Ever (2020–2023). The show, created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher, brought her into the spotlight, where she played a high school student navigating life, family, and relationships.
Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Ramakrishnan is of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, and her family immigrated to Canada as refugees due to the civil war in Sri Lanka. She identifies as Tamil Canadian, and her background has been a significant part of her identity both personally and professionally.
Ramakrishnan’s acting journey began in her final year at Meadowvale Secondary School, where she decided to pursue acting. In an incredible turn of events, she landed the role of Devi in Never Have I Ever just a year after making the decision to act. This led her to defer her acceptance to York University’s theatre program in Toronto, initially planning to attend after high school graduation. However, she later deferred again, choosing to pursue a degree in human rights and equity studies.
Beyond her role in Never Have I Ever, Ramakrishnan has expanded her acting work to include voice roles, notably in the Pixar film Turning Red (2022) and in the animated series My Little Pony: Make Your Mark (2022–2023) and My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale (2022–2024).
Her rising career is marked by her focus on making meaningful contributions, and her work has made a significant impact, especially in portraying South Asian characters in mainstream media.
