Maria was the name of the heroine, and a robot version of her, in the classic science fiction movie Metropolis, which was directed by Fritz Lang in 1927. She was the first robot character ever seen in the movies.
The human Maria was a messianic, pure-hearted socialist reformer trying to save the workers from their horrible life in the factories. Rottwang, the villain, creates a robot version of her-- smirking, soulless, and sexy -- to discredit her with the workers.
The human Maria escapes from Rottwang. Maria the Robot is burned at the stake by a howling mob. The Machine - the giant city-sized factory -- blows up and the young hero, Feder, throws Rottwang off a rooftop, saving his beloved (human) Maria.