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.
Connections with other characters 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 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 Guide to Twelfth Night Analysis of Major Characters in Twelfth Night Summary of Twelfth Night and Characters