Maria Friedman

Maria Friedman
Born
Maria Freedman

(1960-03-19) 19 March 1960 (age 64)
OccupationActress
Years active1980–present
SpouseRoland Brine (divorced)
Partner(s)Jeremy Sams
Oleg Poupko
Adrian Der Gregorian (2006–present)
Children2
RelativesSonia Friedman (sister)

Maria Friedman (née Freedman; born 19 March 1960)[1] is a British actress and director, best known for her work in musical theatre.

She is an eight-time Laurence Olivier Award nominee, winning three. Her first win was for her 1994 one-woman show, By Special Arrangement. She has also twice won Best Actress in a Musical for the original London productions of Passion and Ragtime.

She played Elaine Peacock on EastEnders from 2014 to 2017. In 2023 the role was recast with Harriet Thorpe taking over the role of Elaine.

Friedman was the narrator in the 1999 straight to video version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

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