Maria Friedman

About Maria Friedman

Who is it?: Actress, Soundtrack, Director
Birth Day: March 19, 1961
Birth Sign: Aries
Residence: London, United Kingdom
Occupation: Actress, director
Years active: 1980–present
Spouse(s): Adrian Der Gregorian (2006–present) Jeremy Sams Roland Brine Oleg Poupko
Children: 2

Maria Friedman Net Worth

Maria Friedman was born on March 19, 1961, is Actress, Soundtrack, Director. Born March 19th, 1960 in Switzerland. 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. All the children played piano as well, but brother Richard is a violinist and conductor of all sorts of orchestras, older sister Sarah was a flutist, but took her career elsewhere and is now a university scientist, and younger sister Sonia also played cello, and violin, and is now an acclaimed producer in the West End of London. Maria was supposed to be a cellist, but didn't like to practice. Ironically, her musical/vocal career was an accident. At the age of 14 she saw Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music", but it wasn't until 5 years later when she got her first part. In 1980, she was cast in the chorus of the national tour of Oklahoma!, only because her boyfriend at the time got a part and he asked them to take her as well. Maria, eventually understudied and played the parts of Ado Annie and Laurey at some point during the run.After a few odds and ends jobs here and there, Maria's next big break came about 7 years later in "Blue's in the Night" - at the Piccadily Theatre which recieved a SWET nomination for best Musical. The show was later transferred to the Donmar and got wonderful reviews.Maria next played Hayyah in The Ghetto at the Royal National Theatre, which won an Evening Standard Award for Best Play. (This is where she met Jeremy Sams, partner and father of her two children.) In 1990, Maria got the opportunity in her first Sondheim musical as Dot/Marie in Sunday in the Park with George - also at the Royal National Theatre, which won an Olivier Award for Best Musical and for which Maria was nominated for an Olivier for Best Actress in a Musical. Co-star Phillip Quast recieved an Olivier award for his role as George. This was directed by Stephen Pimlot who also directed The Joseph video 9 years later, and musical direction was by Jeremy Sams. Maria had to audition 7 times before receiving the part.Mary in Merrily We Roll Along at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester in 1992 was her second Sondheim show. In 1994 Maria appeared in her one-woman show at the Donmar Warehouse, Covent Garden, "Maria Friedman by Special Arrangement". The production was a huge success winning Maria the Olivier award for "Best Entertainment"(1995). After the November birth of Maria's first son Toby, the show transferred to the Whitehall Theatre as "Maria Friedman by Extra Special Arrangement" It is from this show that Maria's first solo album was produced.Maria went on to play the role of Fosca in the London production of Stephen Sondheim's musical "Passion" to much acclaim. She played opposite Michael Ball to rave reviews and won the Olivier award for "Best Actress in a musical". This to date is one of her most memorable parts, as many were unsure of Maria for the role, simply because she is known as a comedic actress. Maria was next seen at the Royal National Theatre's Lyttleton theatre in 1997. She played the role of Liza Elliott in the first London production of "Lady in the Dark". It had taken over 50 years to get it to the London stage and once again Maria received rave reviews for the show and was nominated for another Olivier award. She also recieved an Evening Standard award. Following Lady in the Dark, she took over the role of "Roxie Hart" in the smash hit London production of "Chicago". When Maria was asked to do the role following Ruthie Henshall in the shows revival debut, she originally turned it down. Maria saw the character as someone with longer legs and more dancing ability, someone she could not see herself necessarily pulling off. However, when Maria was asked to meet with choreographer Ann Reinking, She was convinced the show might be worth a go and something different. Thus, yet again she was a huge hit in the show. Reviewers raved over her performance, many saying she took the show to new heights of vocal and comedic excellence. In an unusual move Maria was nominated for the Olivier award for best actress in Chicago. Ruthie Henshall who had created the role of Roxie in London had also previously been nominated for the role. Maria starred along side Nicola hughes, and Valerie Pettiford.In 1998, Maria took a break from Chicago to play the role of the Narrator in the video production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat". It was released early in 1999 and opened up a whole new audience to Maria worldwide, particularly in the United States. Donny Osmond, Joan Collins and Sir Richard Attenborough starred along with Maria, and her oldest son Toby makes a small appearence in the beginning, as the little boy she goes into the audience to sing to.In 2000 she returned to the West End as "Sukie" in "The Witches of Eastwick" . The show debuted at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane before transferring to the Prince of Wales theatre. It was a new Cameron Mackintosh musical, with Maria, and Joanna Riding and Lucie Arnaz. Maria ended her run in the show in June 2001. The show closed in October of 2001.After Witches Maria made several concert appearances. She has also appeared as senior police officer 'Gillian Raines' in the BBC drama "In Deep". She was also heard in the BBC Radio 4 play "Swan Song". In 2002 Maria gave birth to another son, called Alfie, and in October she made an appearance at the International Theatre Festival in Wales, playing the role of Mother in "Ragtime". The show received such response that Maria teamed up with her sister, Sonia, a producer at the Ambassadors theatre group, and brought the show to the West End. Opening in March, and booking only a twelve week run, the show again got such response it extended through September.Maria next appeared and toured with her concert, Maria Friedman Live!, and finally debuted in the United States! She was asked by Stephen Sondheim and Barbara Cook, to appear at the Cafe Carlyle in New York for three weeks. The show was a smash! She also took the show to Spain, and Switzerland. In February 2004, she won an Olivier Award for Ragtime and in autumn will appear in the new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, The Woman in White, at The Palace Theatre, London.
Maria Friedman is a member of Actress

💰 Net worth: Under Review

Some Maria Friedman images

Biography/Timeline

1994

Friedman has two sons: Toby Sams-Friedman (b. 1994) with actor Jeremy Sams; and Alfie Friedman (b. 2002) with cameraman Oleg Poupko. She was married to Dancer Roland Brine; her boyfriend is Adrian Der Gregorian.

1996

She first gained fame when she won an Olivier Award for her one-woman cabaret, Maria Friedman By Special Arrangement and another Olivier Award starring in Stephen Sondheim's Passion in 1996, and later became one of the main leading ladies on the London Stage. She would later star in Chicago and Ragtime, both on the West End.

2004

In 2004 she originated the role of Marian Halcombe in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical The Woman in White in the West End and on Broadway in 2005. In the 1999 film of Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, she played the narrator.

2006

As previews for The Woman in White started for the Broadway production, she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer and left the show to have surgery to have the lump removed. Less than a week after the surgery she returned to the stage for the previews and performed on the official opening night. She said she would begin radiation treatment for the cancer in December 2005. The Broadway production closed after only 109 performances on 22 February 2006, in part due to her and co-star Michael Ball's frequent absences due to illness. (Friedman had planned a six-week absence for further treatment, with Judy Kuhn to be her replacement, but remained for the duration of the run once the closing was announced.)

2010

In 2010, Friedman appeared as a soloist in the BBC Proms tribute to Stephen Sondheim at the Royal Albert Hall, London. She sang the role of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd opposite Bryn Terfel. In 2012 she directed a revival of Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along. In October 2014, Friedman joined the cast of EastEnders as Elaine Peacock, the mother of established character Linda Carter (Kellie Bright). She has since appeared in December 2014 and February to March 2015 to date, before returning for a three-month stint in September 2015. In 2015, she directed a revival of High Society at The Old Vic Theatre. The production was played in the round.

2013

As well as other musical shows, Maria participated in Hey, Mr. Producer!, the concert celebrating the works of Sir Cameron Mackintosh, in which she sang "You Could Drive a Person Crazy," "Broadway Baby," and "How Many Tears?" Similarly, she participated in Sondheim Tonight live at London's Barbican Centre, singing "Losing My Mind" (from Follies) and "More" (from the film Dick Tracy). She has also had several one woman shows: Maria Friedman – By Special Arrangement and Maria Friedman – By Extra Special Arrangement and has performed these in several top cabaret venues in both the UK (most recently at Trafalgar Studios) and New York City, including several engagements at the Café Carlyle.