Marilla Cuthbert

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Marilla Cuthbert
Biographical information
Died	Winter 1907
Also known as	Miss Cuthbert
Physical information
Gender	Female
Hair colour	Brown
Skin colour	Fair
Family information
Family members	Matthew Cuthbert (husband) Anne Shirley (adoptive daughter) Davey Keith (relative) Dora Keith (relative)
Family	Cuthbert family
Affiliation
Clubs and societies	Avonlea Sewing Circle
Religious views	Presbyterian
See also
Related pages	Gallery Notes
Portrayal in other universes	Books Realart Pictures RKO Radio Pictures BBC Nippon Animation Sullivan Entertainment animated Green Gables Fables Ana of California Project Green Gables Breakthrough Entertainment CBC

Marilla Cuthbert was the wife of Matthew Cuthbert, the guardian of Anne Shirley and Davey and Dora Keith, a close friend of Rachel Lynde, and a resident of Green Gables.

Etymology

Marilla is a female given name, variant of Muriel or short form of Amaryllis and means shining sea. Cuthbert is derived from the Old English word for famous and bright.

• Anne Shirley named her daughter Rilla after her.

Behind the scenes

Portrayal

• Colleen Dewhurst portrayed Marilla in Anne of Green Gables (1985), Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987), and Road to Avonlea (1990–1996).
• Dewhurst also briefly appeared via archive footage in Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000) and Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (2008).

Trivia

• The 2017 version of the official Anne of Green Gables website described her as, A cold demeanour that covers up a heart of gold, Marilla became the mother she yearned to be after adopting Anne Shirley. Though initially reluctant to keep Anne, as she and her brother had planned to adopt a boy to help them with chores on their farm, Marilla grew to care for Anne and years later admitted that she was like her own ‘flesh and blood’. Marilla is also the wife of Matthew Cuthbert and best friend for life of Rachel Lynde. The current version of the website contains only a slightly altered description.
• The 2012 version of the official Road to Avonlea website described her as, Marilla Cuthbert lived with her brother, Matthew Cuthbert, at Green Gables. When Matthew suddenly died, her lifelong friend Rachel Lynde moved in with her. When her relative Mary Keith died, she agreed to adopt her two young children: Dora Keith and Davey Keith. Rachel was often at odds with the children, especially Davey who proved to be very rambunctious at times. Marilla was troubled by this; she cared for her two new children, but did not want to lose her lifelong friend. She decided that it would be for the best if the children lived in an orphanage. However, Rachel had a miraculous change of heart and was surprisingly adamant that the children remain in Avonlea and with them at Green Gables. In winter of 1907, Marilla died of heart failure, leaving the Keith siblings and Green Gables to Rachel Lynde.

Gallery

Anne of Green Gables Wiki has 225 images of Marilla Cuthbert (view gallery).

Appearances

Films

• Anne of Green Gables (1985)
• Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987)
• Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (2000) (archive footage)
• Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (2008) (archive footage)

Season 1 (Road to Avonlea)

• "The Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's"
• "The Materializing of Duncan"

Season 2 (Road to Avonlea)

• "Of Corsets and Secrets and True, True Love"

Season 3 (Road to Avonlea)

• "Old Friends, Old Wounds" (archive footage)