What is the name of the actress who played Maria on Sesame Street from 1971 to 2015?

The actress who played Maria on Sesame Street from 1971 to 2015 was Sonia Manzano.

Manzano joined Sesame Street in 1971 and became widely known as Maria, one of the program's most prominent human characters. Her character was part of the neighborhood community and was often shown working, solving problems, and interacting with both children and Muppets.

Manzano's connection to the role was especially meaningful because she was born and raised in New York City's South Bronx, a background that helped inform her understanding of the urban community represented by Sesame Street. She also became a writer for the series and won 15 Emmy Awards for her writing.

Her retirement from the regular cast was announced in 2015 after 44 years on the program. The date does not mean she never appeared as Maria again: Manzano reprised the character for Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2019. After Sesame Street, she continued writing and helped create the PBS animated series Alma's Way.