Yasmien Yuson Kurdi-Soldevilla (; born January 25, 1989) is a Filipino actress and singer. She rose to prominence as a contestant in the first season of StarStruck (2003–2004), a reality-based talent search show on GMA Network, where she finished as the first runner-up.
Kurdi gained further prominence in television, portraying Mira on the fantasy series Encantadia (2005), Salve Dizon de Leon on the remake of Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita (2008), Shayne Rodrigo on the remake of Saan Darating ang Umaga? (2008–2009), Angela on Rhodora X (2014), Dolores on the afternoon drama series Yagit (2014), and Ysabel on Sa Piling ni Nanay (2016–2017).
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, and Miriam Ong-Yuson, who is a member of Iglesia ni Cristo. 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. 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.
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. 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.
The network gave them an adaptation of another Sharon Cuneta movie, Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita. The series crushed its rival My Girl. In the last quarter of 2008, Kurdi led the remake of Saan Darating ang Umaga? 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, 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.
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 a year-long hiatus, Kurdi returned to television by starring on Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka. Her role earned her a Best Drama Actress award at the 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Television.
Personal life In 2013, Kurdi revealed to Philippine Entertainment Portal that she had married pilot Rey Soldevilla on January 25, 2012, her 23rd birthday. They have two daughters together, one born in 2012 and another born in 2024.
Since 2025, Kurdi has been studying law at Arellano University.
Health In early 2014, Kurdi was diagnosed with a cyst on her vocal folds, which explained 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.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita Senyang So Happy Together Raphie 2005 Lovestruck Jojo Happily Ever After Jenny Shake, Rattle & Roll 2k5 Leila 2006 Pitong Dalagita Mayo 2007 Bahay Kubo: A Pinoy Mano Po! Dahlia 2008 Loving You Lane Cruz
Television Year Title Role 2003–2004 StarStruck Herself 2004 Stage 1: Live! Stage 1: The StarStruck Playhouse Click Leilani Click Barkada Hunt Herself 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 Rukia Kuchiki 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 2007–2008 Sine 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 2016—2017 Sa Piling ni Nanay Ysabel Salvacion / Zeny 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 2022 Start-Up PH Katrina "Ina" Cortez Sison/Diaz 2023 The Missing Husband Millicent "Millie" Soriano-Rosales 2025 It's Showtime Herself 2026Taskforce Firewall
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 Title Details Peak chart positions PH PH Hit PH Heat PH Indie In the Name of Love Release date: July 9, 2005 Label: GMA Records Formats: CD, music download 6 19 10 15 Love Is All I Need Release date: May 2007 Label: GMA Records Formats: CD, music download 10 23 17 21
Singles Year Single Album2005"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 Results2004 Click 18th PMPC Star Awards for Television Best New Female TV Personality 2005GMMSF Box-Office Entertainment AwardsMost Promising Female Singer2006IFM Pinoy Music AwardsBreakthrough Singer of the Year Song of the YearIn the Name of LoveMYX Music AwardsFavorite New ArtistPhilippine Association of the Record IndustryPlatinum Record Award In the Name of Love 2007Philippine Association of the Record IndustryGold Record AwardLove Is All I Need201428th 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 Ka201933rd PMPC Star Awards for TelevisionBest Single Performance by an Actress Tadhana Best Drama Actress Hiram na Anak
References
External links
Yasmien Kurdi at iGMA.tv