Maria de Costa

Maria de Costa (also Leys) made her first appearance on 11 December 2008. She is portrayed by Judy Browne.

Storylines
Maria first appears when she visits Whitney Dean following her abuse by Tony King. She later informs Tanya Branning that her daughter Lauren Branning wanted to remain in care. She visits Stacey Branning and her baby Lily Branning, and notes that Stacey appears agitated. She visits Stacey again after Janine Malloy reports Stacey for neglecting Lily. However, Maria concludes that Lily is not being neglected. She returns and comes to see Stacey for a home visit, not knowing that Stacey has gone missing with Lily. She visits again where Ryan Malloy pretends to be Stacey's partner. Maria is so impressed that she says she will not need to visit Stacey again. Maria returns in March 2012 to take custody of George Trott after the death of his mother, Heather Trott. She later returns George to Shirley Carter, who is George's godmother, while Social Services try to locate George's father, Darren Miller. A week later she returns to collect George to reunite him with Darren.