<P> Maia Emilia Ninel Morgenstern ( Romanian pronunciation : ( ˈmaja ˈmorɡənʃtern ) ( listen ) ; born 1 May 1962 ) is a Romanian film and stage actress , described by Florin Mitu of AMOS News as `` a symbol of Romanian theater and film '' . In the English - speaking world , she is probably best known for the role of Mary , mother of Jesus , in Mel Gibson 's The Passion of the Christ . In Romania , she has been nationally known since her 1992 role as Nela in Balanța , a film known in the United States as The Oak , set during the waning days of Communist Romania . </P>
<P> Maia Emilia Ninel Morgenstern ( Romanian pronunciation : ( ˈmaja ˈmorɡənʃtern ) ( listen ) ; born 1 May 1962 ) is a Romanian film and stage actress , described by Florin Mitu of AMOS News as `` a symbol of Romanian theater and film '' . In the English - speaking world , she is probably best known for the role of Mary , mother of Jesus , in Mel Gibson 's The Passion of the Christ . In Romania , she has been nationally known since her 1992 role as Nela in Balanța , a film known in the United States as The Oak , set during the waning days of Communist Romania . </P>
who played mary in the passion of christ
who played mary in the passion of christ
Maia Emilia Ninel Morgenstern
Maia Emilia Ninel Morgenstern