Maria Kawamura is a veteran Japanese actress, voice actress, and singer. She was born Shigeyo Kawamura on November 21, 1961, in Setagaya, Tokyo. Her interest in performance began during her junior high school years when her literature club merged with the drama club, immersing her in theater. After graduating from high school in 1980, she enrolled in the Toei Acting Academy to formally study performance. Her entry into voice acting came about through a friend who worked at a publishing company and arranged for her to interview anime director Yoshiyuki Tomino. Kawamura enjoyed the interview and was subsequently invited by Sunrise Studio to audition for a role. This opportunity led to her professional debut in 1983, voicing Cham Fau in the television anime Aura Battler Dunbine. The stage name "Maria Kawamura" was given to her by director Tomino himself.

Kawamura's voice is recognized for its sultry quality and versatility, allowing her to portray a wide spectrum of characters. She is adept at playing mature,高贵, or strong-willed women as well as innocent and cute young girls. She has also demonstrated a remarkable ability to bring unique, theatrical characters to life. Notable examples include the rapid-fire,神经质的 narration of Shadow Girl Ako in Revolutionary Girl Utena and the iconic, operatic high-pitched laugh of Naga the Serpent in the Slayers OVAs and films, a performance style considered unparalleled. This distinctive quality has made her a sought-after talent for roles requiring a powerful and memorable presence.

Throughout her extensive career, Kawamura has been associated with numerous major anime franchises and directors. Her frequent collaboration with director Yoshiyuki Tomino resulted in several key roles in the Gundam franchise and other series. These include Beltorchika Irma in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Quess Paraya in Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, Lillith Fau and Gaw Ha Lecee in Heavy Metal L-Gaim, and Cham Fau in her debut series. Her work in the Harukanaru Toki no Naka de franchise, where she voices the character Shirin, is also well-noted. In 1991, she married acclaimed manga artist and character designer Mamoru Nagano, creator of The Five Star Stories. This connection led to her voicing the character Lachesis in the 1989 OVA adaptation of his work The Five Star Stories, and later the lead role of Bellin in Nagano's original film Gothicmade.

In addition to her voice acting, Maria Kawamura is also an accomplished singer. She has released multiple studio albums, live albums, and singles since her debut. Her discography includes albums such as Green and Gold ~ The Five Star Stories (1988), Canary (1989), and GothicMade Flower Poetry Girl (2007). For much of her career, she was affiliated with the agency Arts Vision but has worked as a freelancer in recent years. Her enduring contributions to the industry were recognized in 2023 when she received the Kazue Takahashi Memorial Award at the 17th Seiyu Awards. Her filmography remains vast, encompassing hundreds of roles across television animation, OVAs, films, and video games, cementing her status as a prominent and respected figure in the world of Japanese voice acting.