Maia Morgenstern

Maia Morgenstern
Morgenstern in November 2018
Born
Maia Emilia Ninel Morgenstern

(1962-05-01) 1 May 1962 (age 62)
Bucharest, Romania
Alma materI. L. Caragiale Institute of Theatre and Film
OccupationActress
Years active1980–present
Known forThe Blessed Virgin Mary in The Passion of the Christ
Television
  • Aniela (2009)
  • Iubire și onoare (2010–11)
  • Las Fierbinți (2012–14)
Spouses
Claudiu Istodor
(m. 1983⁠–⁠1999)
Dumitru Băltățeanu
(m. 2001⁠–⁠2015)
Children3, including Tudor Aaron
Parents
  • Usher Morgenstern (father)
  • Sara Rappaport (mother)
Maia Morgenstern in concert, singing Jewish songs. Timișoara, Romania, 25 May 2010.

Maia Emilia Ninel Morgenstern (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈmaja ˈmorɡənʃtern] ; born 1 May 1962) is a Romanian film and stage actress,[1] described by Florin Mitu of AMOS News as "a symbol of Romanian theater and film".[2] Internationally, she is best known for portraying the Blessed Virgin Mary in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. In Romania, she has been nationally known since her 1992 role as Nela in Balanța, a film known in the United States as The Oak. The film is set during the waning days of Communist Romania.[1] She received a star on the Romanian Walk of Fame in Bucharest on 1 May 2011.[3]

  1. ^ a b (in Romanian) Gabriela Dumba, Pur și SIMPLU, Maia Morgenstern Archived 2008-05-27 at the Wayback Machine, ("Pure and simple, Maia Morgenstern", but with a pun, because Simplu is a Romanian musical group with whom she had done a video), Gardianul, December 23, 2006. Accessed online December 20, 2007.
  2. ^ (in Romanian) Florin Mitu, 2007 Interviu: Maia Morgenstern, AMOS News, November 17, 2007. He addresses her, "Sunteți un simbol al teatrului și filmului românesc…". Accessed online December 20, 2007.
  3. ^ "Maia Morgenstern received a star on Walk of Fame, for her birthday", Adevărul.ro