Maria Fontanals

 actress

ON STAGE NOW!

About

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Maria Fontanals is an award-winning Spanish actress based in New York, as well as a faculty member at HB Studio, one of the original New York acting studios. She is also a member of the Academy of Performing Arts in Spain as well as Actor’s Equity Association. Maria has extensive experience on stage performing leading roles with renowned Off Broadway theaters. She is best known for portraying women who are strong, bold and powerful. Although she tends to play dramatic lead roles, she is a versatile actor who has excelled as comedic actress.  Her witty sense of humor has led her to play roles like Dorothy Parker’s sarcastic, wry, and clever characters.

For her, acting is a great privilege. Being able to be a vessel for stories and inhabit so many lives is what inspires her. She is interested in truths and playing characters that audience could say: “Yes! I feel that way too, I’m not alone.”

Thank you for stopping by and let’s work!

REEL

Press

El espacio entremedias

“While disappearing seamlessly into their secondary roles, the terrific Fontanals and Gazzaniga feelingly inhabit Alex’s parents. Fontanals gives the audience a woman whose deep love and righteous anger are profoundly interlinked”. Thinking Theater – Feb 2025

La monja alférez

“Teatro Círculo consigue plasmar la fuerza del personaje de Catalina de Erauso en ‘La monja alférez’ en una propuesta fresca y atrevida”. El Norte de Castilla – July 2024

La monja alférez

“Fontanals ranges compellingly from defiant to tender as Guzmán”. Thinking Theater – Nov 2024

La casa de Bernarda Alba

“Hatred, jealousy and despair come to life, almost as characters in their own right, in the Repertorio Español”s Spanish-language production of ‘La casa de Bernarda Alba’.” New York Times

Seis

“…Fontanals, similarly terrific….” Thinking Theater – Feb 2023

Fuente Ovejuna

“La espléndida escena en que Laurencia (María Fontanals), herida y mancillada, irrumpe en el espacio donde los hombres del pueblo se hallan reunidos, para recriminarles su pasividad y cobardía frente a las tropelías de Fernán Gómez.” La última bambalina – July 2023

“…un aparte muy especial al trabajo potente de María Fontanals, quien se crece cada vez que pisa un escenario en una nueva labor. María es una actriz con un poderío muy especial y una presencia que no se pasa por alto. Bravo, María a tú excelencia de todos estos años.” Impacto Latino – Nov 2022

“Sandor Juan y María Fontanals en actuaciones estelares.” Impacto Latino – June 2017

“Laurencia (María Fontanals, fantastic in the role), the daughter of the village’s mayor.” Thinking Theater – Oct 2021

Tierra del Fuego

“… Yael Alón, encarnado por la excelente actriz española María Fontanals, quien borda de manera superior y marca sus habilidades interpretativas con una actuación depurada de principio a fin de la representación. María es todo un portento de buen quehacer dramático.” Impacto Latino – August 2019

“Maria Fontanals, se entrega en cuerpo y alma a su personaje. Su actuación fue visceral, honesta y absolutamente desgarradora. El monólogo ante su padre es el punto más mágico de toda la pieza: la transformación de la víctima en heroína, de la doncella en la fiera, la consagración de una actriz que, simplemente, lo puede todo.” La guía cultural – Oct 2022

Oleanna

“Fontanals takes us through the chameleon-like changes of young student Carol with a subtly and expressive grace that leaves us unsure whether to hug her in sympathy or throttle her in anger. She will completely disarm you with her performance but be on guard–she will leave you devastated in the process!.” Banderas News – Dec 2012

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News

“Maria is cast in the new production Afterwards by Pam Enz alongside with Austin Pendleton and Heather Litter’

“El espacio entremedias has garnered outstanding reviews“

“The ‘Academia de Artes Escénicas de España’ nominates Radojka as Best Hispanic Production in NY by the Talía Awards 2024“

More news

On Stage!

Season 2025

Radojka 

Radojka by Christian Ibarzabal and Fernando Schmidth: Two women taking care of an elderly lady come together in order to survive and keep their job. They make a surprising decision that creates the most hilarious situations. What would you be willing to do to not lose your job?  

At Repertorio Español, 138 E 27th St, New York, NYC

Performed in Spanish with English subtitles. 

Contact me

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