Maria Friedman, a veteran actor and director in her 66th year, is currently performing the role of Kimberly Levaco, a 16-year-old girl with a rare genetic condition that causes rapid aging, in the acclaimed musical Kimberly Akimbo at London's Hampstead Theatre. Friedman has described the experience as "loving every second of it." The character faces a tragically short life expectancy, living as a child in the body of an aging woman. The musical, which won five Tony Awards on Broadway in 2022, including Best Musical, has now found a new audience in the UK. Friedman, who is known for her long career in both acting and directing, highlights the rarity of roles for women of her age, making this opportunity particularly meaningful. She is drawn to the story's themes of kindness and living in the present, which she feels deeply resonate with her own life. In the UK, where musical theatre is often seen as less prestigious than drama, Friedman notes that opportunities for actors like her are limited, and this role stands out as a significant milestone. Friedman is a familiar face to British audiences for her role as Elaine Peacock on the long-running soap opera EastEnders from 2013 to 2017. She has also had a distinguished career in musical theatre, including a role in the first UK production of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George in 1990. She has directed acclaimed productions, such as the 2024 revival of Merrily We Roll Along, which became the highest-grossing Sondheim musical on Broadway. Friedman contrasts the perception of musical theatre in the US and the UK, noting that in the US, it is more celebrated and that a Tony Award can generate significant public interest. In the UK, she says, the focus is often more on working with famous names than on the art itself. However, she emphasizes that casting decisions are based on the actors' ability to portray the characters, not their fame. She has worked with notable actors such as Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez, and recalls a close relationship with Sondheim, who was the godfather to her son and known for his exacting standards and deep personal connections. Friedman believes that Sondheim's legacy continues to thrive due to the universal themes and brilliance of his work. She also praises the creators of Kimberly Akimbo, Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire, placing them in the same tradition as Sondheim and hoping they will receive the recognition they deserve in the future.