Yasmien Kurdi
| Yasmien Kurdi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kurdi at the Kapuso Olympics, June 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Yasmien Yuson Kurdi |
| Born |
January 25, 1989 San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines |
| Genres | OPM, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, voice actress, singer-songwriter and commercial model |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2003-2012,2013–present |
| Labels | GMA Records |
Yasmien Yuson Sodrevilla (née Kurdi, born January 25, 1989[1][2] in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines), popularly known as Yasmien Kurdi, is an award-winning Filipina singer-songwriter, actress and commercial model. She was one of the Final Four in the first season of StarStruck, a reality-based talent search show by GMA Network in the Philippines where she finished as first runner-up. She was awarded the title of the Philippines' Pop Sweetheart. She is known for the roles of Mira in the hit fantasy series Encantadia, Salve Dizon de Leon in the remake of Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita and Shayne Rodrigo in the hit remake Saan Darating Ang Umaga?, a role originally played by Maricel Soriano. She was also known in Rhodora X as Angela, Dolores in the hit afternoon drama series Yagit and Ysabel in the hit Sa Piling ni Nanay which extended many times due to high ratings.
As a singer, Kurdi released two studio albums. Her first album, In the Name of Love was released in 2006 and attained platinum status while in 2007, her second album, Love Is All I Need, reached gold status.
Early life
Kurdi was born to a Muslim father, Mohammad Kurdi,[3] and Miriam Ong-Yuson, who is a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo.[4] She is of Lebanese and Chinese Filipino (maternal) descent. She spent most of her early life in Kuwait because of her father's work there, and was there with her family during the Gulf War.[5] She was a member of the junior choir in her church before joining StarStruck. She studied elementary in Jabriya Indian School, and finished high school and nursing at New Era University.[6]
2003-2006: Starstruck, career beginnings, and In The Name of Love
Her early career included modeling for Candy, Seventeen, and MOD magazine. She was one of the finalists in ABS-CBN's ASAP Pond's Soft Skin Search, but lost to the Jaboom twins. In 2009, Kurdi starred in an ad promoting vegetarianism for PETA Asia-Pacific.[7]
2007-2011: Breakthrough and Love Is All I Need
In May 2007, after her success in the Bakekang series as "Charming", Kurdi starred in Pati Ba Pintig ng Puso with JC de Vera. She played Jenna, a maid who has an eye on her employer's grandson. In its press conference, GMA Network crowned her as its GMA Drama Princess.[8] On September 10, 2007, Kurdi starred again with JC de Vera in Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig, which originally starred Sharon Cuneta in 1987. After their huge success as a loveteam in Pati Ba Pintig ng Puso, GMA cast them both in Sine Novela.[9]
The network gave them an adaptation of another Sharon Cuneta movie, Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita.[10] The series crushed its rival My Girl. In the last quarter of 2008, Kurdi led the remake of Saan Darating Ang Umaga?[11] which garnered prime time ratings, though it aired in the afternoon. The Sine Novela is a top rater and the all-time highest in national TV ratings, never beaten by Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin? which held the Mega Manila only.
Kurdi then appeared on Dear Friend: Madrasta,[12] which topped the weekend daytime ratings. She then starred in SRO Cinemaserye's suspense drama Suspetsa.
In 2010, Kurdi was cast in her first role as a villain, on the GMA Network fairy tale television series Grazilda.[13]
2011-2013: Hiatus and comeback Lead Roles
In 2011, Kurdi joined the epic series Amaya for a multi-episode guest arc playing Apila, she then quit show business to concentrate on her college education and raising a family, coming back in 2013 after a two-year hiatus. Recently, she starred in the hit afternoon drama series Sa Piling ni Nanay where she played a surrogate mother.
Activism
Kurdi is a supporter of PETA and has helped with a number of campaigns. On November 9, 2007, she posed inside a cage while holding a sign that said: "Liberate your diet. Go vegetarian."[14] "Through PETA, I am able to speak up for animals and help them be heard. That's why I jumped at the chance to climb into a cage and urge people to 'liberate' their diet and give vegetarianism a try," Kurdi explained.[7]
Recently Kurdi has joined the call to 'Free Mali' from the Manila Zoo, where the elephant has spent 39 years in captivity alone, in a tiny enclosure and without adequate medical care.[15]
Personal life
In 2013, Kurdi revealed to Philippine Entertainment Portal that she is already married to Rey Soldevilla, who is a pilot. In January 2012, they have a daughter named Ayesha Zara, whose name Ayesha means "she who lives" or "womanly" in the Arabic language, and name Zara means "beautiful, bright, shining and brilliant" or "flower, blossom, or beauty" in the Arabic language.[16]
Conversion to Roman Catholicism
Raised in the Iglesia ni Cristo faith, Kurdi converted to her husband's Roman Catholic faith upon their marriage in January 25, 2012. This is because the Iglesia ni Cristo strictly forbids its members from getting married to a person from another faith unless the latter converts to the Iglesia ni Cristo faith, and any member violating such doctrine would merit an automatic expulsion. Her relationship with Soldevilla and eventual conversion initially became a sore issue with her family, which wasn't resolved until her mother Miriam attended Ayesha's first birthday party in 2013.[4][17][18][19][20]
Health
In early 2014, Kurdi was diagnosed with a cyst on her vocal cords, which explained the recent hoarseness in her voice. She was scheduled for surgery in July 2014 to remove the cyst. According to her doctor, there was no guarantee that her voice would fully recover after the operation.[21][22]
Filmography
Television shows
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita | Senyang | |
| 2004 | So Happy Together | Raphie | |
| 2005 | Shake, Rattle and Roll 2k5 | Laila | |
| 2005 | Lovestruck | Jojo | |
| 2005 | Happily Ever After | Jenny | |
| 2006 | Pitong Dalagita | Mayo | |
| 2007 | Bahay Kubo | Dahlia | |
| 2008 | Loving You | Lane Cruz | |
| 2009 | Bleach: Memories of Nobody | Rukia Kuchiki | Provided voice only |
Discography
In 2005, Kurdi released her first album, In the Name of Love, under GMA Records. She released her first single, "I Know" (which was used as a Filipino soundtrack of the Korean teledrama Sweet 18 aired by GMA), followed by "In the Name of Love" and "Umaambisyon" in the same year. In 2007 she released her second album, Love Is All I Need, which included the singles "Candlelight Romance", "Goodbye", "Kisapmata", "One Day", "Take It or Leave It", "Even If" and "Love Is All I Need".
- Studio albums
- In the Name of Love (2005)
- Love Is All I Need (2007)
Accolades
| Year | Nominee/work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Yasmine Kurdi | 36th Annual Guillermo Mendoza Award Most Promising Female Singer[23] | Won |
| 2006 | Yasmine Kurdi | Myx Music Awards 2006 Best New Artist[23] | Won |
| 2006 | "In the Name of Love" | IFM Pinoy Music Awards 2006 Song of the Year[23] | Won |
| 2006 | Yasmine Kurdi | IFM Pinoy Music Awards 2006 Breakthrough Singer of the Year[23] | Won |
| 2006 | In the Name of Love | Platinum Record Award[23] | Won |
| 2007 | Love Is All I Need | Gold Record Award[23] | Won |
References
- ↑ "Yasmien Kurdi celebrates birthday with women from Kaisahang Buhay Foundation". Official Website of GMA Network. GMA Network Inc. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ↑ "Yasmien Kurdi celebrates 27th birthday at Cribs Foundation". Official Website of GMA Network. GMA Network Inc. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ↑ Solis, Lolit (28 December 2014). "Mother Lily nagpasalamat sa 'power' ni Gov. Vi". Pilipino Star Ngayon (in Tagalog). Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- 1 2 Solis, Lolit (25 January 2013). "Yasmien Kurdi, naayos na ang gusot sa kanyang ina". Pinoy Parazzi (in Tagalog). Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ↑ Yasmien Kurdi – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at Last.fm
- ↑ "Call her Nurse Yasmien". The Freeman. Philippines: STAR Group of Publications. 2014-02-16. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
- 1 2 "Yasmien Kurdi: Actor, Singer, and Champion for Animals". PETA Asia-Pacific. PETA. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ↑ GMA7 crowns Yasmien Kurdi as its new Drama Princess
- ↑ Yasmien Kurdi and JC de Vera brave the slums in Pasan Ko Ang Daigdig
- ↑ http://www.pep.ph/guide/1718/Babangon-Ako%E2%80%99t-Dudurugin-Kita-premieres-on-March-24
- ↑ http://www.pep.ph/guide/2874/Saan-Darating-ang-Umaga?-premieres-on-Nov-10
- ↑ http://www.pep.ph/guide/4014/Family-war-escalates-in-Dear-Friend_
- 1 2 http://www.pep.ph/news/26550/Glaiza-de-Castro-gets-her-star-turn-in-primetime-Grazilda
- ↑ Yasmien caged to promote vegetarianism
- ↑ http://storify.com/maypearl02/mali
- ↑ Yasmien Kurdi and Rey Soldevilla Jr.'s Baby Ayesha turns 1
- ↑ Yasmien Kurdi and Rey Soldevilla Jr.'s Baby Ayesha turns 1
- ↑ Yasmien, nakatipid sa b-day ng anak; Jennylyn, naudlot sa Tacloban (in Tagalog)
- ↑ Mommy Divine ipinagtanggol ni Sarah, tampo kay Gerald malalim pa! (in Tagalog)
- ↑ Kathryn, Daniel talk about fidelity, religion in relationship
- ↑ Blanco, Eunice (2014-04-15). "Yasmien Kurdi has cyst on her vocal chords". The Philippine Star. Philippines: STAR Group of Publications. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
- ↑ Tunay na Buhay (Yasmien Kurdi) - 23 April 2014 on YouTube (in Tagalog)
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Yasmien Kurdi Awards & Recognition". Film Academy of the Philippines. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
External links
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New |
StarStruck Runner-up 2003 (season 1) |
Succeeded by LJ Reyes |