Maria Aitken facts for kids

Maria Aitken (born 12 September 1945) is a talented theatre director, teacher, actress, and writer. She was born in Ireland but is also British. Maria Aitken is well-known for her work on stage and in films. She has been nominated for several important awards for her acting.

A Star on Stage and Screen

Maria Aitken has had a very successful career as an actress. She was nominated twice for the Olivier Award, which is a major award for theatre in the UK. These nominations were in 1980 for her role in Private Lives and in 1985 for Waste.

Film Achievements

Maria Aitken also made a name for herself in movies. Her performance in the film A Fish Called Wanda (1988) was highly praised. For this role, she was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. This is a very important film award in the UK.

Early Life and Education

Maria Aitken was born in Dublin, Ireland, on September 12, 1945. Her father was Sir William Aitken, who was a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is a person elected to represent people in the UK government. Her mother was the Hon. Penelope Aitken.

Family Connections

Maria Aitken comes from a family with interesting connections. Her grandfather was John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby, who served as the UK Representative to Ireland. Her great-uncle was Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, a famous newspaper owner and government minister during wartime. Her brother, Jonathan Aitken, also served as a government minister.

School Days

Maria Aitken attended several schools. She went to Riddlesworth Hall Preparatory School and Sherborne School for Girls. Later, she studied at St Anne's College, Oxford, where she earned a degree in English Language and Literature.

Directing and Teaching Career

Besides acting, Maria Aitken is also a respected theatre director. She has directed many plays in famous theatre districts like the West End in London and Broadway in New York.

Award-Winning Director

One of her most famous directing projects was The 39 Steps. This play was very popular and ran for nine years in London. It also played for three years on Broadway. Her work on this play earned her both an Olivier Award and a Tony Award. In 2011, she directed the actor Frank Langella in the play Man and Boy on Broadway.

Sharing Her Knowledge

Maria Aitken also shares her experience by teaching. She is a visiting lecturer at well-known drama schools. These include Yale, NYU, and Juilliard, where she helps train future actors and directors.

Acting Roles and Writing

Maria Aitken has had a long and varied acting career. She has played leading roles at prestigious theatres like the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. She is known for performing in more plays by the famous writer Noël Coward than any other actress.

Film Appearances

Her film roles include:

• Doctor Faustus (1967)
• Mary, Queen of Scots (1971)
• Half Moon Street (1986)
• A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
• The Fool (1990)
• The Grotesque (1995)
• Fierce Creatures (1997)
• Jinnah (1998)
• Asylum (2005)

As a Writer

In 1984, Maria Aitken co-wrote and starred in a TV comedy series called Poor Little Rich Girls. She has also written books. One book, A Girdle Round the Earth, tells the stories of amazing women travellers from the past 200 years. Another book, Style: Acting in High Comedy, was published in 1996. In this book, she explains that "high comedies" are plays that use clever humor and elegant language to explore themes like love, money, and social climbing.

Personal Life

Maria Aitken is the mother of actor Jack Davenport. He was born during her marriage to Nigel Davenport, which lasted from 1972 to 1981. Before that, she was married to Richard Durden from 1968 to 1971. Since 1991, she has been married to the novelist Patrick McGrath. They live in both New York and London.

Charitable Work

Maria Aitken is also involved in charitable work. She has been a supporter of the British Thyroid Foundation since 1992. In 2012, she became a Trustee of the Noël Coward Foundation, which helps promote the works of the famous playwright Noël Coward.

See also

In Spanish: Maria Aitken para niños