Words Yuliasri Perdani Illustration Mufty Fairuz

At the age of 21, Maudy Ayunda has accomplished many things. She is an actress, singer-songwriter, the newest and youngest brand ambassador of L’Oreal Indonesia and a University of Oxford graduate. Her graduation for her bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics and economics will be held in September. “Overall, it was a time when I adapted to new things, talked to my friends about the philosophies of life and I got to know myself more. It was more than just three years of academic education, but a time for self growth.”

Maudy transformed from child actor to teen idol after playing the lead and singing the soundtrack of the two-part romance movie, Perahu Kertas (Paper Boat), in 2012. Her latest song, “Jakarta Ramai” (Crowded Jakarta), tells of the loneliness felt by residents amid the capital’s hustle and bustle. Maudy plans to return to Indonesia’s entertainment industry for the next two years before pursuing her master’s degree in the US. “I feel like I still have so much to explore with my music and role as a public figure that has been limited in the past three years when I was juggling my studies,” she said.

Three words to describe myself ...

Balanced, inquisitive, multifaceted.

My best traits ...

Hopefully my grounded-ness.

And my worst ...

Overthinking.

Knowledge for me is ...

The ultimate enabler.

Music is ...

The soundtrack to my life.

My musical inspiration is ...

Singer-songwriters who have their own style.

The best song I ever wrote ...

My first one ever (about a zookeeper).

An album I listened to lately ...

Jhené Aiko.

It would be a dream come true to star in a movie with ...

Jennifer Lawrence!

My best experience in Oxford ...

Late-night conversations with my friends about philosophical questions in life.

When the going gets tough, I ...

Write a song about it.

I would never ...

Get a tattoo.

My biggest achievement so far ...

Juggling school and a career.

The craziest thing that I have ever done ...

Flying back to Indonesia for three days in the middle of term for work.

I laugh at ...

My own silly blunders.

And cry at ...

The thought of losing loved ones.

Three things I can’t live without ...

Seafood, my sanity and a good pair of sneakers.

I still need to learn ...

How to meditate and achieve mindfulness.

My entertainment career gave me ...

Early professionalism.

People would be surprised to know ...

That I can eat exceptionally spicy food and love it.

The best advice someone gave me ...

You can’t please everyone.

If I could change something from the past, I would ...

Worry less.

One thing that I would change about Indonesia, or the world ...

Dogmatic perspectives.

My life motto ...

The universe conspires with us.

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