Maria is a fictional character in the play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. She is a servant in Olivia's household. Maria is shown to have a friendly relationship with Sir Toby Belch, and exhibits a witty attitude. Maria also forges a love letter to Malvolio which results in Malvolio being confined to a dark room (a treatment for madness). In the end of the play, this relationship with Sir Toby Belch ultimately leads to their marriage.

Maria the servant
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare character
Maria, Augustus Egg (c.1849)
Created byWilliam Shakespeare

Connections with other characters

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  • Maria is Olivia's personal house-maid
  • Sir Toby Belch is Olivia's uncle
  • Malvolio is the steward in Olivia's household and therefore Maria's superior

Performers

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Year Media Performer
1869 Broadway Fannie Davenport
1905 Broadway Zeffie Tilbury
1910 Film Marin Sais
1939 Television Lucille Lisle
1949 Broadway Ruth Enders
1955 Film Anna Lisyanskaya
1957 Television Micheline Luccioni
1963 Off-Broadway Peggy Pope
1969 Off-Broadway Jennifer Darling
1970 Television Raph Wolfs
1972 Television Jet Naessens
1974 Television Anne Stallybrass
1980 Television Annette Crosbie
1987 Film Tracy Harvey
1988 Television Abigail McKern
1996 Film Imelda Staunton
1999 Off-Broadway Dana Slamp
2003 Television Maureen Beattie
2009 Off-Broadway Julie White
2012 Off-Broadway Katie Alto
2013 London Paul Chahidi

References

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