Maria Elena Björnson (16 February 1949 – 13 December 2002) was atheatre designer. She was born in Paris to a Norwegian father and Romanian mother, and was the great-granddaughter of the Norwegian playwrightBjørnstjerne Bjørnson, who won theNobel Prize in Literature in 1903.^[1]

Maria Björnson
Björnson in 1988
Born	Maria Elena Björnson (1949-02-16)16 February 1949 Paris, France
Died	13 December 2002(2002-12-13) (aged 53) London, England
Education	Byam Shaw School of Art Central School of Art and Design
Known for	Theatre design costume design
Awards	Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design, 1988 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design, 1988 Tony Award for Best Scenic Design, 1988 Tony Award for Best Costume Design, 1988

Björnson was born in Paris on 16 February 1949. Her father Bjørn was a businessman from Norway; her mother, Mia Prodan (full name Maria Prodan de Kisbunn), was from Romania.^[2] Both were from theatrical families.^[3] Björnson was raised by her mother in London.^[4] She studied at theLycée Français, and then at theByam Shaw School of Art and at theCentral School of Art and Design.^[1][3]

She designed sets and costumes for theatre, ballet and opera.^[4] She worked for theRoyal Shakespeare Company, and designedAndrew Lloyd Webber'sThe Phantom of the Opera – for which she won aTony Award for Best Scenic Design and forBest Costume Design, and aDrama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design and forOutstanding Costume Design – and theTrevor Nunn production ofAspects of Love.

Björnson was course director for theatre design at the Central School of Art and Design.^{[citation needed]} She died ofepilepsy at her home inHammersmith on Friday 13 December 2002, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.^[4] She was 53.^[3]

In 2006, the refurbishedYoung Vic opened a new studio theatre named the "Maria" in her memory. The first performance there wasLove and Money byDennis Kelly, directed byMatthew Dunster and designed byAnna Fleischle.^[5]