Chelsea Islan: Movies & Filmography

Chelsea Elizabeth Islan was born on 2 June 1995 in Queens, New York City, to an Indonesian mother and an American father. As the only child, she spent her formative years moving between the United States and Indonesia, eventually enrolling in Jakarta’s Mentari Intercultural School for her primary and secondary education. While still an elementary student, she debuted on stage in a production of Once on This Island, demonstrating an early affinity for performance. Her first foray into the media world came in 2005 when she appeared in a national Wall’s ice‑cream commercial, which sparked interest from casting directors. By 2013, she landed her feature‑film debut in the drama Refrain, sharing the screen with Afgansyah Reza and Maudy Ayunda. The following year, she achieved mainstream visibility through the action movie Street Society and the biographical film Merry Riana: Mimpi Sejuta Dolar. From 2014 to 2017, she became a household name by starring in the popular sitcom Tetangga Masa Gitu, working alongside Sophia Latjuba and Deva Mahenra.

In 2015, she earned critical acclaim opposite Boy William in the historical drama Di Balik 98, a performance that secured her first Citra Award nomination for Best Actress. The momentum continued with the 2016 biopic Rudy Habibie, which brought her a second consecutive Citra nomination. Her versatility was recognized with a Maya Award for Best Supporting Actress for 3 Srikandi and an Indonesian Movie Award for Favorite Supporting Actress the same year. The horror‑action collaboration May the Devil Take You in 2018 showcased her ability to lead a franchise, leading to a sequel in 2020 and a forthcoming third installment. Beyond film, she has fronted campaigns for L’Oréal, Garnier, Tokopedia, and several other major brands, cementing her status as a top model. A committed activist, she founded “Youth of Indonesia” in 2016 and was named an Innovative Young Leader at the 2017 Southeast Asian Leaders Summit. On 8 December 2022, she married Indonesian politician Rob Clinton Kardinal in Jakarta Cathedral, adding a new chapter to her personal narrative.