She is best known for playing Maria on Sesame Street from 1971 until her retirement in 2015.

Sonia Manzano (born June 12, 1950) is an American actress and writer. Infused with actual news accounts from the time period, Sonia Manzano has crafted a gripping work of fiction based on her own life growing up during a fiery, unforgettable time in America, when young Latinos took control of their destinies. Through it all, Evelyn learns important truths about her Latino heritage and the history makers who shaped a nation. When Abuela steps in to take charge, Evelyn is thrust into the action. The Young Lords, a Puerto Rican activist group, dump garbage in the street and set it on fire, igniting a powerful protest. Then, like an urgent ticking clock, events erupt that change everything.

One of America’s most influential Hispanics - 'Maria' on Sesame Street - presents a powerful novel set in New York's El Barrio in 1969 There are two secrets Evelyn Serrano is keeping from her Mami and Papo? her true feelings about growing up in her Spanish Harlem neighborhood, and her attitude about Abuela, her sassy grandmother who's come from Puerto Rico to live with them.