Maria Friedman

Maria Friedman (née Freedman) is a British actress and director, best known for her work in musical theatre. She is an eight-time Olivier Award nominee, winning three. Her first win was for her 1994 one-woman show, By Special Arrangement. She has also twice won Best Actress in a Musical for the original London productions of Passion and Ragtime. She played Elaine Peacock on EastEnders from 2014 to 2017. In 2023 the role was recast with Harriet Thorpe taking over the role of Elaine. Friedman was the narrator in the 1999 straight to video version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.