Maria Macklin

Maria Macklin (1733 – 1781) was a British actress. Her parents were both leading Irish born actors.

Life During the 1730s her father Charles Macklin and her mother Ann Grace Purvor were lovers. They were both Irish born actors appearing on the London and Dublin stages. Her mother assumed the name of Macklin although it is unlikely they ever married. By 1738 she and her parents were living in Covent Garden and in 1739 her mother stopped appearing as "Mrs Grace" and began appearing as "Mrs Macklin" as if they had been married.

She became a popular actress.

Her father soon began an affair with his servant Elizabeth Jones after his wife died. Elizabeth was about the same age as Maria. Elizabeth and her father were together for some years before they married on 13 February 1778.

She died in 1781 after having a growth on her knee removed. It was said that the growth was due to tightening her garters too much when playing breeches roles. She had put off having her legs examined until surgery was the only option.