Maia Morgenstern | |
|---|---|
 Morgenstern in November 2018 | |
| Born | Maia Emilia Ninel Morgenstern (1962-05-01)1 May 1962 (age 63) |
| Alma mater | I. L. Caragiale Institute of Theatre and Film |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Known for | TheBlessed Virgin Mary inThe Passion of the Christ |
| Television |
|
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3, includingTudor Aaron |
| Parents |
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Maia Emilia Ninel Morgenstern (Romanian pronunciation:[ˈmajaˈmorɡənʃtern]ⓘ; born 1 May 1962) is a Romanian film and stage actress,[1] described by Florin Mitu of AMOS News as "a symbol of Romanian theater and film".[2] Internationally, she is best known for portraying theBlessed Virgin Mary inMel Gibson'sThe Passion of the Christ. In Romania, she has been nationally known since her 1992 role as Nela inBalanța, a film known in the United States asThe Oak. The film is set during the waning days ofCommunist Romania.[1] She received a star on theRomanian Walk of Fame inBucharest on 1 May 2011.[3]
Born inBucharest, Romania, to aJewish family,[1] she attended theZoia Kosmodemianskaia High School in her native city,[4] and graduated from theFilm and Theatre Academy of Bucharest in 1985. Her father was aBessarabian Jew.[5] She then played atTeatrul Tineretului (Youth Theatre) inPiatra Neamț until 1988, and at theTeatrul Evreiesc de Stat (State Jewish Theatre) in Bucharest 1988, 1989, and 1990. From 1990 to 1998 she was a member of the company of theNational Theatre in Bucharest, and since 1998 ofTeatrul Bulandra, also in Bucharest.[6] She continues to act at the Jewish State Theatre, other Bucharest theatres[1] and theatres elsewhere in Romania.[6] Among her notable stage roles in recent years, is aRomanian-language production ofThe Blue Angel (Îngerul Albastru in Romanian) at Bucharest's Odeon Theatre. In 2001 - 2002 she played, to great critical acclaim, Lola Lola, the character made famous byMarlene Dietrich. At the same time, she also played the role of Kathleen Hogan in a Romanian-language production ofIsrael Horovitz'sPark Your Car in Harvard Yard at the State Jewish Theatre.[1]
Morgenstern has appeared in numerous films, primarily inRomanian-language roles. InThe Passion of the Christ, she performs a role inAramaic, but like the other actors in the cast of that film, she simply memorized her linesphonetically.[7] She reported that she felt really proud to portray theVirgin Mary.[8]
Her surname, Morgenstern, means "Morning Star" in German, is atitle of the Virgin Mary, the character she played inThe Passion of the Christ. Mel Gibson, a devoutTraditionalist Catholic, thought this of great significance when casting her.[9] In interviews, she has defendedThe Passion of the Christ against allegations ofantisemitism,[10] saying that the high priestCaiaphas is portrayed not as a representative of the Jewish people, but as a leader of the establishment, adding that "Authorities throughout history have persecuted individuals with revolutionary ideas."[11]
On 29 March 2021, a Romanian man was arrested after Morgenstern received an email stating "I intend to throw her in thegas chamber".[12]
She has been married twice, first to Claudiu Istodor (1983–1999), and then to Dumitru Băltățeanu (2001–2015). She has three children, one of them being actorTudor Aaron.[13]
She has won several major awards as an actress:
Where translations of titles are italicized, it indicates use of the translated title for the film in English-language release.
| The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One | 2027 | Mary | Aramaic |
| What About Love | 2024 | Sister Martina | English, Spanish |
| Sacrificiul | 2019–2020 | Eva Oprea/ Eva Ioanid | Romanian |
| Capra cu trei iezi | 2022 | Capra | Romanian |
| The New Gospel | 2020 | Mother Mary | German |
| Fructul oprit (TV series) | 2019 | Mgda Popa | Romanian |
| High Strung | 2016 | Madame Markova | English |
| #Selfie69 | 2016 | Femeie Bila | Romanian |
| Miss Christina | 2013 | Mrs. Moscu | Romanian |
| The Secret of Polichinelle | 2013 | Maya | Romanian |
| Fata din Transilvania | 2011 | Romanian | |
| La fin du silence | 2011 | the mother | French |
| Sânge Tânăr, Munți și Brazi | 2011 | Mama | Romanian drama |
| Luna verde | 2010 | Simona | Romanian |
| Iubire și onoare (TV series) | 2010–2011 | Marieta | Romanian |
| Aniela (TV series) | 2009–2010 | Maica Stareţa | Romanian |
| Eva | 2009 | Maria | English |
| The House of Terror | 2008 | Eszter Somos | English |
| Black Sea | 2008 | Madalina | Italian |
| The Fence | 2007 | Herman's mother | English |
| Mansfeld | 2006 | Mrs. Mansfeld | Hungarian / English / Russian / German |
| Margo | 2006 | Margo's stepmother | Romanian |
| Visuri otrăvite ("Poisoned Dreams") | 2006 | Ada's mother | Romanian |
| 15 | 2005 | Irene | Romanian / French |
| L'Homme pressé | 2005, TV | Bonne de Bois de Rose | French |
| Orient Express | 2004 | Amalia Frunzetti | Romanian |
| Damen tango | 2004 | Romanian | |
| The Passion of the Christ | 2004 | Mary | Aramaic |
| Căsătorie imposibilă ("Impossible marriage") | 2004, TV series | Romanian | |
| Bolondok éneke (Fool's Song) | 2003 | Gina | Hungarian / French / Romanian |
| A Rózsa énekei (Rose's Songs) | 2003 | Olga | Hungarian |
| Patul lui Procust (Procust's Bed) Based onCamil Petrescu's novelPatul lui Procust | 2001 | Doamna T. | Romanian |
| Dark Prince: The True Story of Dracula | 2000, TV | woman at the fountain | English |
| Marie, Nonna, la vierge et moi | 2000 | Nonna | French |
| Kínai védelem (Chinese Defense) | 1999 | Hungarian | |
| Față în față (Face to Face) | 1999 | Romanian | |
| Triunghiul morții ("Triangle of Death") | 1999 | Regina Maria | Romanian |
| Az Álombánya | 1998, TV, short | Hungarian | |
| Witman fiúk (Witman Boys) | 1997 | Mrs. Witman | Hungarian |
| Omul zilei (The Man of the Day) | 1997 | Romanian | |
| Ulysses' Gaze (originalGreek title:Το Βλέμμα του Οδυσσέα,To Vlemma tou Odyssea) | 1995 | playing oppositeHarvey Keitel as Ulysses' wife | English / Greek |
| The Seventh Chamber | 1995 | Edith Stein (the starring role) | Hungarian |
| Nostradamus | 1994 | Helen | English |
| Trahir (Betrayal, Romanian title:A trada) | 1993 | woman in prison | French / Romanian |
| Casa din vis ("The House from the Dream") | 1993 | Romanian | |
| Cel mai iubit dintre pămînteni (The Earth's Most Beloved Son) based onMarin Preda's novelCel mai iubit dintre pământeni | 1993 | Romanian | |
| Balanța (The Oak) | 1992 | Nela (the starring role) | Romanian |
| Rămînerea (Forgotten by God) | 1992 | Romanian | |
| Băiatul cu o singură bretea, also known asFlăcăul cu o singura bretea ("The Boy with a Single Brace") | 1991 | Romanian | |
| Cei care plătesc cu viața (Those Who Pay with Their Lives) | 1991 | Romanian | |
| Pasaj | 1990 | Romanian | |
| Marea sfidare ("The great defiance") | 1989 | Romanian | |
| Maria și marea ("Maria and the Sea") | 1988 | Maria | Romanian |
| Anotimpul iubirii (The Season of Love) | 1986 | Romanian | |
| Secretul lui Bachus (The Secret of Bacchus) | 1984 | the girl in the restaurant (as Maia Morgenstern Istodor) | Romanian |
| Dreptate în lanțuri (Chained Justice) | 1983 | Romanian | |
| Prea cald pentru luna mai ("Too hot for the month of May") | 1983 | Romanian |
