Marita Covarrubias

A UN assistant turned double agent navigating the conspiracy.

Marita Covarrubias is a fictional character on The X-Files, initially introduced as an informant leaking diplomatic information to FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder regarding paranormal cases. Created by Chris Carter, who felt it was more interesting for Mulder's next contact to be a woman, she replaced the character X after his death. Portrayed by Laurie Holden from the fourth-season opener "Herrenvolk" to the series finale "The Truth", she was revealed to be an agent of the secretive Syndicate. Although she betrayed that organization on a limited number of occasions, her role remained a recurring presence throughout the show's run, offering a complex dynamic distinct from earlier informants.

Quick Facts

Series: The X-Files
First: "Herrenvolk"
Last: "The Truth"
Occupation: Assistant to the Special Representative to the Secretary-General of the United Nations
Portrayed by: Laurie Holden
Gender: Female
Creator: Chris Carter

Lore & Background

Covarrubias was introduced after X scrawled "SRSG" on a piece of paper, leading Mulder to the Special Representative to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. There, he met Covarrubias, the SRSG's assistant, who used her diplomatic connections to help him infiltrate the Russian province of Krasnoyarsk and reach the site of the Tunguska event. However, she was revealed to be working for The Smoking Man and the Syndicate. During the fifth season, after the Syndicate discovered her betrayal, they infected her with black oil.

While the Syndicate's vaccine proved ineffective, her infection was ultimately cured by an effective vaccine stolen from a Russian shadow-government group by Alex Krycek." She returns in the seventh-season finale "Requiem", restored to health, and makes contact with Krycek at the behest of the Smoking Man. She and Krycek then betray the Smoking Man, telling Walter Skinner and Mulder about a downed UFO, and push the Smoking Man down a flight of stairs, leaving him for dead.

Reader's Guide

Laurie Holden auditioned for Marita Covarrubias without access to a script, told only that the character worked for the United Nations with an air of "intelligent seriousness." She had never seen The X-Files before auditioning and used only three pages of material from her debut episode. For the episode "Patient X," Holden learned Russian, rehearsing roughly fifteen seconds of screen-time for hours. A voice coach tested her proficiency by having her speak to his Russian-speaking friends over the telephone.

Chris Carter originally wanted Natalija Nogulich for a female version of X before she was replaced by Steven Williams. Fans during the initial run nicknamed Covarrubias "UNblonde" due to her posting and dyed hair. Critically, the character received mixed reviews; Robert Shearman and Lars Pearson described her as a "bad parody" of Deep Throat and X, while Debra Warlick noted Holden's performance in "One Son" was "heart breaking [sic]" despite being used merely to convey plot points.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Marita Covarrubias in The X-Files?

She is a United Nations employee and covert operative for the Syndicate who becomes Mulder's primary intelligence source beginning in Season 4. Laurie Holden portrays the character from the Season 4 premiere through the series finale.

What is Marita Covarrubias's role in the conspiracy?

She functions as a double agent, holding an official UN position while secretly carrying out the Syndicate's directives. Over the course of the series she repeatedly turns against that organization to shield Mulder and pass him critical information.

Why was Marita Covarrubias introduced into the show?

Creator Chris Carter felt it would be more compelling for Mulder's next source to be a woman, so he developed the character to fill the void left by X's death. She debuted in the Season 4 opener "Herrenvolk" and became a recurring fixture through the final episode.