Maria Yakovleva was born in St Petersburg, Russia. She graduated from the Vaganova Academy in 2004. In 2004–05 she was a member of the Mariinsky Theatre where she was entrusted with solo roles of the classical repertory. In 2005 she was engaged as Soloist by the Ballett der Wiener Staatsoper und Volksoper, in 2010 she was promoted to First Soloist of the Wiener Staatsballett.

Her repertory in Vienna includes the title roles in Rudolf Nureyev’s Raymonda, Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, Pierre Lacotte’s La Sylphide and Patrick de Bana’s Marie Antoinette, title role, Bauernpaar and Zulma in Elena Tchernichova’s Giselle, Kitri in Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote, Odette/Odile and Gefährtin des Prinzen in Nureyev’s Schwanensee, Clara in Nureyev’s Der Nussknacker, Prinzessin Aurora and Verzauberte Prinzessin in Peter Wright’s Dornröschen, Lise in Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée, Bella in Roland Petit’s Die Fledermaus, Julia in John Cranko’s Romeo und Julia, and Hamsatti and Solo-Schatten in Vladimir Malakhov’s Die Bajadere, among others. She created the role of the empress Elisabeth in Patrick de Bana’s Ludwig II – The Swan King. Eno Peci created for her the Pas de deux Opus 25 (2017). Awards and honours she has received include the Nomination for the Prix Benois de la Danse for her performance in George Balanchines Rubies (2011).