Person biography:
Maria Friedman was born on March 19th, 1960, in Switzerland. She was the third child of four to musical parents, Leonard, a violinist and co-founder of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and Claire, a concert pianist and opera coach. Her siblings also played musical instruments, with her brother Richard becoming a violinist and conductor, her sister Sarah becoming a flutist and university scientist, and her sister Sonia becoming an acclaimed producer in the West End of London.
Maria was initially supposed to be a cellist, but didn't enjoy practicing. She got her first part in a musical at the age of 19 in the national tour of Oklahoma!, and eventually understudied and played the parts of Ado Annie and Laurey during the run.
Her next big break came 7 years later in "Blue's in the Night" at the Piccadilly Theatre, which received a SWET nomination for best Musical. The show was later transferred to the Donmar and got wonderful reviews.
Maria's subsequent roles included Hayyah in The Ghetto at the Royal National Theatre, which won an Evening Standard Award for Best Play, and Dot/Marie in Sunday in the Park with George, which won an Olivier Award for Best Musical.
Maria has also appeared in numerous other productions, including Merrily We Roll Along, Passion, Lady in the Dark, Chicago, and The Witches of Eastwick, for which she won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
In addition to her stage work, Maria has also appeared in several concert productions and has made appearances on television and radio. She has two sons, Toby and Alfie, and is married to Jeremy Sams, a director and composer.
