Maria Lee

Maria Lee was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and grew up in Clinton, Mississippi. Following her graduation from Clinton High School, she attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre. Upon graduation from FSU, she completed an acting internship with the After Dinner Players Theatre in Houston, TX, under the artistic direction of Golden Globe nominee Jeanette Clift George. After relocating from Houston to Orlando, Maria performed as a member of the improvisational acting troupe, "Streetmosphere," for the Walt Disney World Company. A member of the Screen Actors Guild, Maria has studied with Alice Carter of the Carter-Thor Studios in Los Angeles, and coaches privately with Christinna Chauncey, recently voted as one of the top private acting coaches in Los Angeles by Back Stage West. In 2003, Maria was awarded the "Best Actress" award in the 168 Hour Film Festival. She starred in the festival's top prize-winning film "CrossWalk", directed by Wes Llewellyn. As a voice-over artist, Maria was the ADR voice match for Academy Award winner Charlize Theron in the sci-fi feature film "Aeon Flux," and for Sara Wayne Callies from the Fox hit show "Prison Break." Her many other voice over credits include the villain Maleficent for Disneyana, the Mexican Bureau of Tourism, and Motorolla. As a vocalist, Maria lent her singing talents to the Katrina relief effort recording of the single "Come Together Now," co-written by Sharon Stone, Denise Rich, Mark Feist, and Damon Sharpe. The single was recorded at Capitol Records in the legendary Studio B. Celebrities participating in the collaboration included Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, and Patti LaBelle. "Come Together Now," originally inspired by the tsunami tragedy, was the first major all-star collaboration for charity since "We Are The World." She was also a featured vocalist for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and has appeared as a solo cabaret performer throughout Europe. A proud member of the Actors Equity Association, Maria's favorite regional theatre credits include "The Eight: Reindeer Monologues" (Vixen), "All in the Timing" (Kafka), "Steel Magnolias" (Clairee) and "Saving Nineveh" (Rachel). Maria has a particular love of classical theatre, having studied Shakespeare under the tutelage of Alfred Molina, Art Manke, and Patsy Rodenberg, the acclaimed voice coach of Great Britain's Royal National Theatre and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Her classical credits include "Twelfth Night" (Viola), "The Comedy of Errors" (Courtesan), "Taming of the Shrew" (Kate), "Hamlet" (Gertrude), and "As You Like It" (Phebe). In 2003, Maria became a member of the award-winning Actors Co-op theatre company, Co-op audiences will recognize her from her roles in "Translations" (Maire), "The Most Happy Fella" (Cleo), "Shooting Stars" (Charlene), "Into the Woods (Stepmother/Granny), "The Skin of Our Teeth" (Sabina), and "Tales of Tinseltown" (Adele DeRale). In addition to gracing the Co-op mainstages, Maria gave a show-stopping performance as Carmen Miranda, singing a rip-roaring rendition of the Portuguese tune, "Mama Eu Quiero," complete with dancing boys in poofy shirts, for the 2004 Co-op Gala.