Ma Costa

A nurturing force within the Gyptian fleet who once cared for Lyra before joining the resistance against the kidnappings.

Maggie 'Ma' Costa is a pivotal figure within the Gyptian community in the first series of His Dark Materials. Portrayed by Anne-Marie Duff, she is a Gyptian woman who nursed Lyra Belacqua when Lyra was a baby.

Quick Facts

Role: Gyptian Woman who previously nursed Lyra
Affiliation: The Gyptians
First appearance: His Dark Materials Series 1 (2019)

Lore & Background

Ma Costa's history is linked to Lyra Belacqua: she nursed Lyra when she was a baby, before Lyra was brought up at Jordan College, Oxford. This past connection establishes her as a maternal figure within Lyra's life before the main events of the series unfold.

Reader's Guide

Ma Costa appears exclusively in Series 1 (2019), which premiered on 3 November in the UK and 4 November in the US. Her role is defined by her relationship to Lyra and her integration into the Gyptian fleet's efforts to counter the kidnappings.