Maria Nossiter

Maria Isabella Nossiter (1735 – 25 April 1759) was a British stage actress. She died young having risen to a high salary and owning a share of a Dublin theatre.

Life Nossiter was born in 1735 and she is believed to be the daughter of George Cholmondeley, 3rd Earl of Cholmondeley and his "favourite" housekeeper. She was brought up well enjoying both an education and money. She was tutored by the leading actor, impresario and widower, Spranger Barry. At the age of eighteen she appeared in the leading role of Juliet opposite Barry (who appeared as Romeo) at Covent Garden in October 1753. Nossitor was taking the role that Susannah Maria Cibber would have taken but she was appearing at Drury Lane. On the night Susanna Cibber came to watch the performance in what had been "her role", but despite this Nossiter gave a good performance and she came to be an audience favourite. The following month she appeared, again with Barry, as Belvedira in Venice Preserv'd.

Macnamara Morgan wrote the tragedy Philoclea which premiered at Covent Garden on 22 January 1754. The play was based on Philip Sidney’s Arcadia and it was presented for nine nights. Nossiter took the lead role in Philoclea and it was said that the play had been "brought forward and wrote purposely to show her to advantage by McNamara Morgan".