Yasmien Kurdi Explained

Birth Name:Yasmien Yuson Kurdi
Birth Date:January 25, 1989
Birth Place:San Juan, Philippines
Alma Mater:Arellano University (BA)
Years Active:2003–present
Agent:Sparkle (2003–present)
Label Name:GMA Music
Children:2

Yasmien Yuson Kurdi-Soldevilla (in Tagalog ˈjasmin ˈkəɹdi/; born January 25, 1989)[1] [2] is a Filipino singer, actress and 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. Yasmien Kurdi graduated magna cum laude from Arellano University with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in political science. She is currently an exclusive artist of GMA Network.

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

Yasmien Yuson 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, high school in Angelicum College and graduated magna cum laude with a degree of political science in Arellano University.[6]

Career

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.

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.[7] 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.[7]

The network gave them an adaptation of another Sharon Cuneta movie, Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita.[7] The series crushed its rival My Girl. In the last quarter of 2008, Kurdi led the remake of Saan Darating ang Umaga?[7] 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 ,[7] which topped the weekend daytime ratings. She then starred in SRO Cinemaseryes suspense drama Suspetsa.

In 2010, Kurdi was cast in her first role as a villain, on the GMA Network fairy tale television series Grazilda.[7]

2011–2017: Rising popularity

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.

2018: Critical acclaim

In 2018, after 1 year of being hiatus, she made her TV comeback in Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka. It became a big-hit in the country and bagged the Best Drama Actress in the 32nd PMPC Star Awards for TV.

Personal life

In 2013, Kurdi revealed to Philippine Entertainment Portal that she had been married to Rey Soldevilla, who is a pilot on January 25, 2012 on her 23rd birthday. On November 22, 2012, she gave birth to their first daughter, Ayesha Zara.[8] On April 28, 2024, Kurdi welcomed their second daughter, Raya Layla, via a caesarean section since her umbilical scar from her first birth was still thin and the infant had a cord coil.[9]

Health

In early 2014, Kurdi was diagnosed with a cyst on her vocal folds, 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.[10]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004 Senyang
So Happy Together Raphie
2005 Lovestruck Jojo
Happily Ever AfterJenny
Shake, Rattle & Roll 2k5 Leila
2006 Pitong Dalagita Mayo
2007 Dahlia
2008 Loving You Lane Cruz

Television

YearTitleRoleNetwork
2003–2004 StarStruck Herself GMA Network
2004 Stage 1: Live!
Stage 1: The StarStruck Playhouse
Click Leilani
Click Barkada HuntHerself
2004–2010 SOP Rules
2004–2006 SOP Gigsters
2004–2005 Joyride Rene / Irene
2005 Encantadia Mira
Love To Love (Season 6): Wish Upon A Jar Neneng
2005–2007 Hokus Pokus Jackie
2006 Bleach
Now and Forever

Tinig

Victoria / Ikay
2006–2007 Carlo J. Caparas' Bakekang Charming Maisog / Lokresha / Karisma
2007 Sine Novela

Pati Ba Pintig ng Puso

Jenna
2007–2008Sine Novela

Pasan Ko ang Daigdig

Lupe Velez
2008 Bleach: Season 2 Rukia Kuchiki
Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita Salve Dizon
Carlo J. Caparas' Tasya Fantasya Tasya
2008–2009 Sine Novela

Saan Darating ang Umaga?

Shayne Rodrigo
2009 SRO Cinemaserye

Suspetsa

Leonor
Dear Friend

Madrasta

Princess / Shiela Gomez
All My Life Princess
2010 Pilyang Kerubin Hannah
2010–2011 Grazilda Cindy
2011–2012 Amaya Apila
2013 Anna Karenina Margarita "Maggie" Monteclaro
2014 Rhodora X Angela Ferrer
2014–2015 Yagit Dolores "Dolor" Macabuhay-Guison
2015 Magpakailanman: Nuno Sa Punso Flor
2016 Wagas Mitch GMA News TV
2016—2017 Sa Piling ni Nanay Ysabel Salvacion / Zeny GMA Network
2017 Dear Uge Mylene
Tadhana Connie
Magpakailanman: Anak Mo, Anak Ko, Anak Natin Mary Jane
2018 Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka Thea Balagtas-Angeles
Dear Uge: Beki Boyfie Mina
Magpakailanman: The Haunted Wife Inday
2018–2019 Cain at Abel young Belen Castillo
2019 Hiram na Anak Miren Alonta-Sandejo
2019–2020 Beautiful Justice Alicia "Alice" Santos-Vida
2020 I Can See You: The Promise Clarisse Agoncillo
2021–2022 Las Hermanas Dorothy Manansala-Lucero
2022Start-Up PH Katrina "Ina" Cortez Sison/Diaz
2023 The Missing Husband Millicent "Millie" Soriano-Rosales

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".

Albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
PHPH HitPH HeatPH Indie
In the Name of Love 6191015
Love Is All I Need 10231721

Singles

YearSingleAlbum
2005"I Know"In the Name of Love
"In the Name of Love"
"Umaambisyon"
2006"Patuloy Parin"
2007"Kisapmata" Love Is All I Need
"Love Is All I Need"
2008"Take It or Leave It"
"One Day"
"Goodbye"

Compilation and soundtrack appearances

Song Album Title
"I Know" Kahimig Videoke Series Vol.1
"In the Name of Love", "Umaambisyon" Kahimig Videoke Series Vol.2
"It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve" Kapuso Sa Pasko
"Pintig Ng Puso", "Ngayong Wala Ka Na" Ngayong Wala Ka Na
"I Know", "In the Name of Love" Mga Awit Mula Sa Puso
"I Know" Lovestruck (soundtrack album)
"Pasan Ko ang Daigdig", "In the Name of Love" Mga Awit Kapuso Vol. 4

Music videos

YearTitleDirector(s)
2005"I Know"Marco Yanig
"In the Name of Love"Jun Lana
"Patuloy Pa Rin"Eric Quezon
2007"Love Is All I Need"Mark J. Delos Reyes
2008"Take It or Leave It"Joel Lamangan

Awards and nominations

Year Award Giving Body Category Nominated Work Results
2004 Best New Female TV Personality
2005GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsMost Promising Female Singer[11]
2006IFM Pinoy Music AwardsBreakthrough Singer of the Year
Song of the YearIn the Name of Love
MYX Music AwardsFavorite New Artist[12]
Philippine Association of the Record IndustryPlatinum Record AwardIn the Name of Love
2007Philippine Association of the Record IndustryGold Record AwardLove Is All I Need
201428th PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest Single Performance by an ActressMagpakailanman: Nalunod na Pag-asa: The Cebu Ship Collision
201832nd PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest Drama ActressHindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka[13]
Rowspan=2201933rd PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest Single Performance by an ActressTadhana
Best Drama ActressHiram na Anak

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yasmien Kurdi celebrates birthday with women from Kaisahang Buhay Foundation. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303064045/https://www.gmanetwork.com/artistcenter/articles/2014-01-29/100/yasmien-kurdi-celebrates-birthday-with-women-from-kaisahang-buhay-foundation. March 3, 2016. January 29, 2014. February 4, 2016. Official Website of GMA Network. GMA Network Inc..
  2. Web site: Yasmien Kurdi celebrates 27th birthday at Cribs Foundation. https://web.archive.org/web/20170705051247/https://www.gmanetwork.com/gma/royalwedding/inside/proposal/photos/2016-01-24/538/yasmien-kurdi-celebrates-27th-birthday-at-cribs-foundation. July 5, 2017. January 24, 2016. February 4, 2016. Official Website of GMA Network. GMA Network Inc..
  3. News: Mother Lily nagpasalamat sa 'power' ni Gov. Vi. Pilipino Star Ngayon. December 28, 2014. February 4, 2016. tl. Solis. Lolit.
  4. News: Yasmien Kurdi, naayos na ang gusot sa kanyang ina. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919054419/http://www.pinoyparazzi.com/yasmien-kurdi-naayos-na-ang-gusot-sa-kanyang-ina. September 19, 2020. Pinoy Parazzi. January 25, 2013. February 4, 2016. tl. Solis. Lolit.
  5. Web site: Yasmien Kurdi music, videos, stats, and photos. Last.fm. November 20, 2023 .
  6. News: LOOK: Yasmien Kurdi graduates magna cum laude from Arellano University . https://web.archive.org/web/20220718135717/https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/227621-yasmien-kurdi-magna-cum-laude-graduate . July 18, 2022 . August 3, 2019 . Rappler.
  7. Web site: PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal): Showbiz and Beyond. PEP.ph.
  8. Web site: Yasmien Kurdi and Rey Soldevilla Jr.'s Baby Ayesha turns 1. PEP.ph.
  9. News: Severo. Jan. Yasmien Kurdi gives birth to 2nd child via C-section. May 1, 2024 . . May 1, 2024.
  10. News: Blanco . Eunice . April 15, 2014 . Yasmien Kurdi has cyst on her vocal chords . https://web.archive.org/web/20140505070616/http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2014/04/15/1312929/yasmien-kurdi-has-cyst-her-vocal-chords . May 5, 2014 . . Philippines . STAR Group of Publications . April 23, 2014.
  11. News: Francisco . Butch . The Box-Office Entertainment Awards . 1 June 2024 . Philstar.com . 23 February 2006.
  12. News: MYX Music Awards 2006 Winners. https://web.archive.org/web/20070814115438/http://www.mukamo.com/myx-music-awards-2006-winners. August 14, 2007. Mukamo. Allan Castalone. September 12, 2020.
  13. Web site: 32nd Star Awards for TV winners revealed; ASAP joins MMK, Eat Bulaga, Bubble Gang in Hall of Fame. PEP.ph.