Sonia Manzano

Sonia Manzano
Manzano at the 2015 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, DC
Born (1950-06-12) June 12, 1950 (age 74)[1]
New York City, U.S.
EducationCarnegie Mellon University (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • screenwriter
  • author
  • speaker
Years active1971–present
Known forMaria on Sesame Street
Board member ofMarch of Dimes
George Foster Peabody Awards
Symphony Space
Project Sunshine Book Club
Children1
Awards15 Emmy Awards for writing, 2016 Lifetime Achievement Daytime Emmy Award
Websitewww.soniamanzano.com

Sonia Manzano (born June 12, 1950) is an American actress, screenwriter, and author. She is best known for playing Maria on Sesame Street from 1971 to 2015. She received a Lifetime Achievement Daytime Emmy Award in 2016.

Her memoir, Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx was published in 2015, and her works include the novel The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano as well as several children's books. She is the creator of the animated children's television series Alma's Way, from Fred Rogers Productions, and serves as an executive producer, writer and voice actor for the show.

  1. ^ Graeber, Laurel (October 3, 2021). "In 'Alma's Way,' a Young Latina Thinks for Herself, Like Her Creator". The New York Times.