"When I was a kid, there was a lot of chaos going on around me and I did find a certain comfort in television sometimes. I hope I can be remembered as the person who created a moment of safety for a child watching."  

    About This Interview

    In her one-and-a-half-hour interview, Sonia Manzano talks about her role as "Maria" on the classic children's series Sesame Street, which she had played continuously for the entire 35-year run of the show up to the time of the interview. She describes her audition for the show, a typical production week, and important milestones for her character including her marriage to "Luis" and the birth of their daughter. She describes her prominence as a role model for Latinos on television, as a result of the popularity of the series. She also talks about key creative talent from the series including Jim Henson and puppeteer Fran Brill, as well as performers Bob McGrath, Emilio Delgado, Loretta Long, Matt Robinson, Will Lee, Roscoe Orman, Linda Bove, Kevin Clash, and Caroll Spinney. Karen Herman conducted the interview on July 15, 2004 at the Sesame Workshop in New York, NY.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Sonia Manzano

    Sonia Manzano on TV she watched as a child and how that influenced her

    03:33
    Thumbnail of Sonia Manzano

    Sonia Manzano on the natural aging of her character "Maria" on Sesame Street

    00:58
    Thumbnail of Sonia Manzano

    Sonia Manzano on the first piece she wrote for Sesame Street

    03:26
    Thumbnail of Sonia Manzano

    Sonia Manzano on the legacy of Sesame Street

    00:30
    Thumbnail of Sonia Manzano

    Sonia Manzano on how she would like to be remembered

    00:48
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On her early years growing up in New York and her own experiences with learning and racism

    16:03

    On her interest in performing and being cast in the original production of Godspell

    05:05

    On her audition for Sesame Street and her realization about what the show was meant to be

    07:05

    Chapter 2

    On her Sesame Street character "Maria" and how she began to write for the show

    09:34

    On important stories and themes covered on Sesame Street

    16:14

    On her Sesame Street colleagues Will Lee and Matt Robinson

    01:54

    Chapter 3

    On the cast of Sesame Street

    07:18

    On the set, Muppets, and puppeteers on Sesame Street

    14:45

    On her favorite moments on Sesame Street and the legacy of creator Joan Ganz Cooney

    05:49

    Chapter 4

    On the importance of continuing to perform

    02:14

    On her advice to aspiring writers, the legacy of her character and Sesame Street, and how she'd like to be remembered

    08:06

    Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

    Sonia Manzano on the number of Emmys she's won for writing

    00:48

    Sesame Street

    Sonia Manzano on seeing Sesame Street for the first time in college

    01:02

    Sonia Manzano on her audition for Sesame Street with Jon Stone and his philosophy about her role

    03:45

    Sonia Manzano on the natural aging and incorporation of her feminism in the character "Maria" on Sesame Street

    01:56

    Sonia Manzano on why there weren't many female and ethnic Muppet characters on Sesame Street

    01:27

    Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street executive producer Dulcy Singer

    03:04

    Sonia Manzano on "Maria's" marriage and motherhood storylines on Sesame Street; on how her own daughter was briefly in the cast

    08:32

    Sonia Manzano on executive producer Dulcy Singer's fight to make a show which would address the death of "Mr. Hooper" (following actor Will Lee's death)

    01:03

    Sonia Manzano on the research and script of "Farewell, Mr. Hooper," which addressed the death of regular character "Mr. Hooper"

    01:24

    Sonia Manzano ("Maria") on Caroll Spinney's performance as "Big Bird" in the episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper," which addressed the death of regular character "Mr. Hooper"

    00:51

    Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street castmate Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper")

    01:16

    Sonia Manzano on working on the set of Sesame Street

    03:01

    Sonia Manzano on the Muppets being the heart of Sesame Street and the legacy of Jim Henson

    03:02

    Sonia Manzano on working with the Muppets and their puppeteers on Sesame Street

    07:42

    Sonia Manzano on her favorite Sesame Street moments

    01:45

    Sonia Manzano on the legacy of Sesame Street

    00:39

    Sesame Street: "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    Sonia Manzano on executive producer Dulcy Singer's fight to make a show which would address the death of "Mr. Hooper" (following actor Will Lee's death)

    01:03

    Sonia Manzano ("Maria") on the research and script of "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    01:24

    Sonia Manzano ("Maria") on Caroll Spinney's performance as "Big Bird" in the episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper"

    00:51

    Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street castmate Will Lee ("Mr. Hooper")

    01:16

    Classic TV Series Episodes

    Sonia Manzano on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)

    03:08

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Sonia Manzano on the difficulty for an Hispanic actor to find non-stereotypical roles

    01:13

    Representation on Television

    Sonia Manzano on the difficulty for an Hispanic actor to find non-stereotypical roles

    01:13

    Underrepresented Voices

    Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street

    04:13

    Sonia Manzano on watching TV as a child and not seeing "herself" depicted in the media

    01:48

    Sonia Manzano on writing Sesame Street stories on cultural change

    03:04

    Sonia Manzano on the difficulty for an Hispanic actor to find non-stereotypical roles

    01:13

    We Cried

    Sonia Manzano on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)

    03:08

    Sonia Manzano on the death of Muppet creator Jim Henson

    01:37

    Women

    Sonia Manzano on adding aspects of feminism to her character on Sesame Street

    02:28

    Actress

    Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street

    04:15

    Sonia Manzano on the power of being on stage

    00:26

    Performers

    Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street

    04:15

    Puppeteer

    Sonia Manzano on why there weren't many female and ethnic Muppet characters on Sesame Street

    01:27

    Sonia Manzano on working with the Muppeteers on Sesame Street

    07:42

    Writers

    Sonia Manzano on writing for children on Sesame Street

    02:29

    Sonia Manzano on her advice to writers

    01:00

    Children's Programming

    Sonia Manzano on being cast on Sesame Street

    04:13

    Sonia Manzano on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)

    03:08

    Sonia Manzano on how children react to Sesame Street

    03:18

    Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street creator Joan Ganz Cooney

    01:24

    Sonia Manzano on the legacy of Sesame Street

    00:39

    Linda Bove

    Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Linda Bove

    00:27

    Fran Brill

    Sonia Manzano on working with puppeteer Fran Brill on Sesame Street

    00:44

    Ruth Buzzi

    Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Ruth Buzzi

    00:36

    Kevin Clash

    Sonia Manzano on working with Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash on Sesame Street

    01:48

    Joan Ganz Cooney

    Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street creator Joan Ganz Cooney

    01:24

    Emilio Delgado

    Sonia Manzano on her first impressions of Emilio Delgado on Sesame Street

    00:21

    Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Emilio Delgado

    01:27

    Jose Ferrer

    Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street guest Jose Ferrer being unable to contain himself when working with Elmo

    01:03

    Jim Henson

    Sonia Manzano on the Muppets being the heart of Sesame Street and the legacy of Jim Henson

    03:02

    Will Lee

    Sonia Manzano on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983) and her memories of working with actor Will Lee

    04:28

    Loretta Long

    Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Loretta Long

    00:28

    Bob McGrath

    Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Bob McGrath

    00:47

    Roscoe Orman

    Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Roscoe Orman

    02:43

    Carmen Osbahr

    Sonia Manzano on working with Elmo puppeteer Carmen Osbahr on Sesame Street

    02:51

    Frank Oz

    Sonia Manzano on working with puppeteer Frank Oz on Sesame Street

    00:41

    Matt Robinson

    Sonia Manzano on Matt Robinson creating the Roosevelt Franklin Sesame Street Muppet

    00:42

    Sonia Manzano on her Sesame Street colleague Matt Robinson

    00:32

    Dulcy Singer

    Sonia Manzano on Sesame Street executive producer Dulcy Singer

    03:04

    Caroll Spinney

    Sonia Manzano on the Sesame Street episode "Farewell, Mr. Hooper" (airdate: November 24, 1983)

    03:08

    Sonia Manzano on working with puppeteer Caroll Spinney on Sesame Street

    00:23

    Jon Stone

    Sonia Manzano on her audition for Sesame Street with Jon Stone and his philosophy about her role

    04:13

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