Maria Angelica

Maria Angelica Kirke was born in Manhattan, in the East Village at Beth Israel Medical Center. She is from Cuban, Greek, Italian descent but her exotic looks are often mistaken for Brazilian, Argentinean, Russian, Czechoslovakian and French; therefore the term, "ethnically ambiguous" suites her. Her Greek mother, Sophia Pantages, was an actress until she decided to become an English schoolteacher. The Pantages Theater was founded by her relatives. Maria's father, Juan Figueredo, left Cuba and came to America in 1960. He became an electronic engineer and helped construct the space helmets for the first American astronauts that walked on the moon, Gemini 8. Maria studied at the School of American Ballet and danced in "The Nutcracker" at the age of 11. (New York State Theatre in Lincoln Center) When she was 12, 13 and 14 she won three awards in her school's (Declamation) Monologue Contest. The first one she did was from Tennessee William's, "This Property is Condemned." Maria graduated from high school six months early and traveled along the East Coast with an improvisational theater company. She continued studying drama at NYU, Tish School of the Arts and spent a year abroad in a NY/Paris Student Exchange Program, where she completed an acting apprenticeship with the Theater of the Oppressed, directed by the late Augusto Boal. Maria also volunteered in soup kitchens and homeless shelters, and read for underprivileged children in schools. She currently supports the organization Road Recovery with her husband Simon Kirke and several other charities. She modeled in NYC and in Italy and appeared in several music videos but her true passion has always been acting. Maria's work includes theatre, commercials, television and film. She appeared in a cameo role on the TV show, "Rescue Me," playing opposite Denis Leary. She was also in a short film, "The Bronx Balletomane," (which won several awards) playing opposite Federico Castelluccio. Maria wrote a screenplay where the story takes place in Cuba and NYC. She wants to act and produce the project but it is on hiatus due to the politics between America and Cuba. Her vision is for this film to be shot someday in Cuba and New York City. From 2017-2019 Maria collaborated with two other writers. They wrote a TV episodic and pilot called, Suffragette City. Maria is a member of Theatre 68, founded by Ronnie Marmo.