Sesame Street will have to find a new resident after Sonia Manzano announced she is leaving after 44 years.

The Puerto Rican actress, who has played human resident Maria alongside characters such as Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo and Cookie Monster on the children’s TV show since 1971, announced she is stepping down at the American Library Association Annual Conference.

The 65-year-old star hinted she may return in the future, tweeting: “Maybe I’ll go back for 50th anniversary and make a guest appearance!”

Sonia first appeared on Sesame Street in 1971, before becoming a regular in 1974. She has also written a memoir, Becoming Maria: Love And Chaos In The South Bronx, about her experiences of playing Maria.

Maria and her husband Luis (played by Emilio Delgado) are known to viewers for running the Fix-It Shop, which specialises in toaster repair.

Sonia Manzano was honoured at the 2013 Muse Awards
Sonia Manzano was honoured at the 2013 Muse Awards (Diane Bondareff/Invision/AP)

Sonia, who received two Emmy nominations for her acting, won 15 Emmys for her writing work on the show.

The Jim Henson Company, which is behind the show’s puppets including Kermit the Frog, Count von Count, Bert and Ernie, expressed their upset at her departure on Twitter.

Fans have also tweeted their sadness at Sonia’s news.

Sesame Street, which made its screen debut in 1969, is now in its 45th series.