Maudy Ayunda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maudy Ayunda
Maudy Ayunda in 2023
Born	Ayunda Faza Maudya (1994-12-19) 19 December 1994 (age 30) Jakarta, Indonesia
Nationality	Indonesia
Alma mater	University of Oxford (BA) Stanford University (MA) (MBA)
Occupation	Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Entrepreneur, Author
Years active	2005–present
Organization	Mod Media Collective, Maudy Ayunda Foundation, From This Island
Title	Co-founder and CEO of From This Island
Spouse(s)	Jesse Choi ​ (m. 2022)​
Musical career
Genres	Pop
Labels	Trinity Optima Production
Associated acts	David Choi Iwan Fals Dewi Lestari

Ayunda Faza Maudya, known to many as Maudy Ayunda (born 19 December 1994), is a talented Indonesian actress, singer, songwriter, and author. She is also a successful entrepreneur.

Maudy started her journey in entertainment with the film Untuk Rena in 2005. She became well-known for her main roles in movies like Perahu Kertas (2012), Refrain (2013), and Habibie & Ainun 3 (2019).

Besides acting, Maudy also has a successful music career. Her first album, Panggil Aku…, came out in 2011. It included the popular song "Tiba-tiba Cinta Datang". She has released four studio albums and sung for many film soundtracks.

Maudy is also known for supporting important social causes. She especially cares about education and helping young people. She has worked on projects that make education easier to access for everyone in Indonesia.

Her hard work has earned her many awards. She was even featured on the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list. She also received nominations at the Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) and the Anugerah Music Indonesia (AMI).

Maudy's Early Life and Education

Maudy Ayunda was born Ayunda Faza Maudya on December 19, 1994, in Jakarta, Indonesia. She is the oldest daughter of Didit Jasmedi R. Irawan and Muren Murdjoko. Her younger sister, Amanda Khairunnisa, is also an influencer and has acted in films.

From a young age, Maudy loved books and learning. She learned to read at just three years old. Her first word was "Kompas," the name of a newspaper. As a child, she often read quietly during family gatherings. Maudy once said that education was her "safe space." She felt it was a place where she had full control over her success or failure.

Maudy first attended Al-Azhar school. In second grade, she moved to Mentari Intercultural School. This change was tough because she was the only student who did not speak English well. The headmaster even warned her family that she might have to repeat a grade. But Maudy quickly improved her English. She successfully finished junior high school there. She then went to high school at the British School Jakarta, where she led the student council.

After high school in 2011, Maudy took a year off, even though she was accepted to Columbia University. In 2012, she started her bachelor's degree. She studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at the University of Oxford in the UK. She graduated with high honors. In 2019, she was accepted into both Harvard and Stanford for her master's degree. She chose Stanford and earned two degrees: one in education (MA) and one in business administration (MBA).

Maudy's Career Journey

Starting Out in Entertainment (2005–2010)

Maudy Ayunda began her career as a child actress in 2005. Her first film was Untuk Rena, where she starred with actor Surya Saputra. She was discovered by Miles Productions at her school and was chosen for the main role of Rena. For this first role, Maudy was nominated for an MTV Indonesia Movie Award in 2006. She also won Best Actress at the Jakarta Film Festival.

When she was 11, Maudy published her first book, A Forest of Fables. It was a collection of 17 short stories about forest animals. The money from the book sales went to help victims of the 2004 Aceh tsunami.

In 2009, Maudy worked with Miles Films again. She played Zakiah Nurmala in Sang Pemimpi. This movie was a sequel to Laskar Pelangi. Besides acting, she also sang "Mengejar Mimpi" for the movie's soundtrack. Later that year, Maudy was a finalist in a competition for the Indonesian magazine GADIS.

First Album and More Films (2011–2014)

Maudy Ayunda in her music video, "Loveable"

After her film debut, Maudy started singing. In 2011, she released her first music album, Panggil Aku…. It had 10 songs, including "Tetap Bersama," which she wrote herself. Another song, "Tiba-tiba Cinta Datang," became the theme song for a romantic TV show in 2014.

Maudy also continued her acting career. She appeared in Rumah Tanpa Jendela, a musical film. She also starred in Tendangan Dari Langit, a sports movie. The next year, Maudy worked with Surya Saputra again in Malaikat Tanpa Sayap. She played Mura, the love interest of Vino, played by Adipati Dolken. She was nominated for Best Actress for this role.

Soon after, Maudy and Adipati acted together in Perahu Kertas. This film was based on a popular novel by Dee (Dewi Lestari). Maudy played the main role of Kugy. She also sang the original soundtrack song, "Perahu Kertas," which Dewi Lestari wrote. She was nominated for several awards for this song in 2013.

In 2013, Maudy released a mini-album called My Hidden Collection on YouTube. It had four English songs, all written by her. In January 2014, she sang a duet called "By My Side" with Korean-American singer David Choi. This song was later part of her 2014 album and was nominated for an award.

New Projects and Global Recognition (2015–2017)

Maudy Ayunda performing in 2017

On April 1, 2015, Maudy released her second studio album, Moments. The album sold over 200,000 copies and received a Multi-Platinum certification. It was also nominated for Best Pop Album. She released three singles from the album: "Cinta Datang Terlambat", "Bayangkan Rasakan", and "Untuk Apa".

That same year, Maudy appeared in the action film 2014: Siapa di Atas Presiden. She also lent her voice to the animated movie Battle of Surabaya. She released another song she wrote, "Jakarta Ramai". She won Female Singer of the Year at the 2015 Indonesian Choice Awards.

While finishing her last year at Oxford in 2016, Maudy released the single "Sekali Lagi". She was also chosen to sing the official Indonesian version of "How Far I’ll Go" from Disney's animated film Moana.

In 2017, Maudy starred as a travel blogger named Trinity in the film Trinity, The Nekad Traveler. She also sang "Satu Bintang di Langit Kelam" for the movie's soundtrack. That year, Maudy also released the singles "Kejar Mimpi" and "Kutunggu Kabarmu".

Oxygen and Publishing (2018–2020)

In 2018, Maudy released her third studio album, Oxygen. The album was nominated for Best Pop Album. Maudy was also nominated for Best Pop Female Artist for her song "Aku Sedang Mencintaimu". She also sang the theme song "Song of Victory" for the 2018 Asian Para Games with other musicians.

Maudy also became an author. She published "Dear Tomorrow: Notes to My Future Self". This book shares her thoughts on being true to yourself, dreams, career, and love. The book was very popular, selling over 27,000 copies.

After her self-help book, Maudy published two bilingual children's books in 2019. They were titled Kina's Story - Kina and Her Fluffy Bunny and Kina's Story: Kina Makes a New Friend. She first wrote these stories when she was 10 years old.

In 2019, Maudy played Hasri Ainun Habibie in the Habibie Ainun 3 movie. She also sang the soundtrack song "Kamu & Kenangan". This song was nominated for several awards. Maudy was also nominated for her role as Ainun.

In 2020, Maudy decided to pursue her master's degree in the United States. To mark this journey, she released a song called "Goodbye". That same year, Maudy was included in Forbes Indonesia's 30 Under 30 list.

New Music and G20 Role (2021–2022)

When she returned to Indonesia, Maudy was cast as Jeng Sri in Losmen Bu Broto. She also wrote and performed the soundtrack for the movie. The film was released in 2021. Maudy received nominations for her acting and for creating the theme song "Semakin Jauh".

In 2021, Maudy also released her mini-album The Hidden Tapes: Vol 1. She created this album while studying at Stanford University. It features three songs about women accepting, facing, and empowering themselves.

The first song, "Don’t Know Why," came out in July 2021. It talks about feeling numb in relationships. The second song, "Not for Us," released in August 2021, is about relationships that don't last forever. The final song, "Heartless," released in October 2021, shows women's strength.

Maudy also worked with Dee Lestari on a song called "Awal Mula". This song is the soundtrack for Dee Lestari's novel Rapijali.

Maudy Ayunda as Spokesperson for Indonesia's G20 Presidency in 2022

In 2021, Maudy was recognized by Forbes Asia on their 30 Under 30 list for Entertainment and Sports.

Besides her creative work, Maudy is also dedicated to helping others. In 2022, she was chosen as the Spokesperson for the G20 Indonesia Presidency. This was done to help more Indonesian young people be heard on global stages. During the presidency, Maudy joined discussions about education, women, youth empowerment, and sustainable development. She stressed how important young voices are in making decisions.

In 2022, Maudy also started her own YouTube channel. She shares fun and educational content there. She uses her channel to build a community and encourage open talks. Her channel has programs like "Booklist" (book reviews), "Ayunda's thoughts" (discussions), "Buka Kartu" (Q&A), and vlogs about her daily life.

New Ventures and Music (2023 – present)

In 2023, Maudy brought back her Mentorship & Scholarship Program. She started this program in 2018 as part of her foundation. It helps young Indonesians become leaders and make a positive impact. The program had 32 participants. Maudy led workshops on topics like mindset for success, storytelling, and building mental strength. She also offered scholarships to some participants to help them create change in their communities.

Maudy Ayunda launched her skincare brand in 2023

Maudy also launched her own business, From This Island. It is a personal care company that uses special ingredients from Indonesia. With a patented technology called LUMERA, Maudy and her partner Patricia Davina aim to create effective skincare products. They hope to bring Indonesia's name to the global stage.

Maudy released her fourth studio album, "Pada Suatu Hari," in 2024. This album marked her return to music. She now sees music not just as entertainment but also as a way to tell stories and comment on society.

In May 2024, Maudy released a song called "Cahaya." It was a surprise wedding anniversary gift for her husband, Jesse Choi. The song talks about the beauty and vulnerability of love. Fans and the public loved the song.

Three months later, in August 2024, Maudy released her second song, "Hari Itu." This catchy song celebrates the innocence of childhood. It was inspired by her school days. The song talks about memorable school moments like the first day and friendships. It became very popular, especially among college students.

In November 2024, Maudy released her third and final song from the album, "Puisi Kota." It is a duet with the famous Indonesian singer, Iwan Fals. Maudy composed the song herself. "Puisi Kota" explores the challenges of self-discovery and finding meaning in a busy world.

Maudy is also returning to films. She has a new role as Laksmi in "Para Perasuk," a supernatural drama set to release in 2025. She is also taking on a new role as a Producer for the first time. She is producing a biopic about "Ki Hadjar Dewantara," Indonesia's Father of Education. This movie will be released in 2026.

In February 2025, Maudy released the official soundtrack for the Korean film You're the Apple of My Eye. The movie stars Dahyun (TWICE) and Jinyoung (B1A4). The soundtrack, titled "Now Do You," is special because it's the first Korean movie OST sung by an Indonesian artist.

Maudy's Personal Life

Maudy Ayunda married Jesse Choi, a Korean-American entrepreneur, in May 2022. They met while studying for their master's degrees at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Jesse has lived in Indonesia since late 2021.

Maudy's Activism and Advocacy

In 2012, Maudy Ayunda was the youngest speaker at a global economic and democracy forum in Nusa Dua, Bali. Former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono attended this international event. Maudy spoke about how economic growth can help fight poverty in Indonesia.

In 2015, she joined the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, during his visit to Jakarta. Maudy was studying Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at the University of Oxford at the time. She was recognized for her activism. She guided the Prime Minister through various activities, from serious discussions to taking a selfie while enjoying Indonesian banana fritters.

In 2016, the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection listed Maudy as an Inspirational Woman of Indonesia. She was also named the "Most Influential Millennial" by I Fashion Festival. This was because of her positive presence on social media and her work with CIMB Niaga for the "Kejar Mimpi" (Chase Your Dreams) movement. Maudy started this movement in 2017 as part of CIMB Niaga's social responsibility program. The movement also inspired a popular song with the same name.

In March 2022, Maudy Ayunda was chosen as the spokesperson for the Indonesian government during its G20 Summit presidency. The summit took place in Bali in November 2022. This decision aimed to improve communication between the government and the public about the G20 events.

Maudy's Music Albums

Studio Albums

Soundtrack Album Contributions

Singles

Maudy's Film Roles

Maudy's Awards and Nominations

Maudy Ayunda has received many awards and nominations throughout her career for her acting and singing. Here are some of her notable achievements:

See also

In Spanish: Maudy Ayunda para niños