Who Is Zelda's Daughter In The Magicians? Unpacking A Key Family Connection

Dr. Brian Brown I

31 Jul, 2025

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For fans of Syfy's captivating series, The Magicians, a show based on the compelling trilogy of novels by Lev Grossman, there are so many intriguing characters and relationships to explore. One connection that truly resonates with viewers involves the head librarian, Zelda Schiff. People often wonder about her family, and specifically, who her daughter is. It's a question that, you know, really opens up a lot about the series' deeper storylines and character motivations. The show, which ran from 2016 to 2020, brought to life a world of magic that was both fantastical and, you know, quite grounded in human emotion.

The series, created by Sera Gamble and John McNamara, featured a brilliant cast including Stella Maeve, Hale Appleman, Arjun Gupta, and Summer Bishil. It gave us a look at Brakebills University, a place where magic students learn their craft, and also, you know, the wild, unpredictable land of Fillory. Zelda Schiff, a very central figure, works and lives within the Library, a place of immense knowledge and, honestly, quite a bit of power. Her personal story, in some respects, is deeply tied to her family, and that includes her child.

So, if you've ever found yourself pondering this particular family tie, you're certainly not alone. The show, you see, often gave us glimpses into the personal lives of even its most stoic characters. Understanding Zelda's family helps us, you know, get a better grasp of her actions and choices throughout the series. It's a bit like peeling back layers, revealing the human elements behind the magic. This article will help clear up just who Zelda's daughter is, and also, you know, some important details about their bond.

Harriet Schiff: Zelda's First Known Daughter
A Thirst for Knowledge and a Wanderer's Heart
The Complex Bond Between Zelda and Harriet
Zelda Schiff: The Head Librarian
Zelda's Past and Her Drive for What's Right
Hope Quentin: Zelda's Newborn Daughter
About Mageina Tovah: The Actress Behind Zelda Schiff
Mageina Tovah: Personal Details
Mageina Tovah's Acting Career
Frequently Asked Questions About Zelda's Daughter

Harriet Schiff: Zelda's First Known Daughter

When people ask about Zelda's daughter in The Magicians, they are, you know, typically thinking of Harriet Schiff. Harriet is indeed the daughter of Head Librarian Zelda Schiff. She is a character who made a significant impact on the show, and her connection to Zelda is, you know, quite a pivotal part of both their stories. Harriet is, in fact, a student who attended Brakebills University, a place where many of the show's main characters honed their magical skills.

It's interesting to note that, you know, Harriet is deaf. This is a very important aspect of her character. She communicates through American Sign Language, which is, you know, shown clearly in the series. This detail adds a lot of depth to her portrayal and to her interactions with other characters, especially her mother. Their relationship, as we learn, had its fair share of difficulties, and this particular aspect of Harriet's life was, in a way, one of the things they argued about.

The audience first really learns about Harriet's true parentage through her own story. It was in an episode called "Six Short Stories," which, you know, focused on different characters' experiences with magic. Through Harriet's narrative in this episode, it becomes quite clear that she is, actually, the daughter of Zelda Schiff. This revelation, you know, really sheds new light on both characters and their history together.

A Thirst for Knowledge and a Wanderer's Heart

From a very young age, Harriet Schiff showed a profound interest in learning. She had, you know, this incredible thirst for knowledge. This wasn't just about general facts; she was, apparently, obsessed with learning about the multiverse. Imagine, you know, wanting to know about all the different possible realities and how magic works across them. That's a pretty big ambition for a young person.

Harriet also had, you know, the heart of a wanderer. This means she wasn't content to stay in one place or stick to one way of doing things. She was always, you know, seeking out new information and new experiences. This drive to explore and understand the vastness of magic was, in some respects, a defining characteristic for her from the very beginning. She was, quite literally, always seeking more knowledge.

This desire to learn and explore, you know, led her to study magic quite intensely. She wasn't just a casual student; she was, really, dedicated to understanding how everything worked. Her pursuit of knowledge, in a way, often put her at odds with the strict rules and traditions of the Library, which Zelda, her mother, was bound to uphold. This is, you know, a classic parent-child conflict, but with magic involved.

The Complex Bond Between Zelda and Harriet

The relationship between Zelda and her daughter, Harriet, is one of the most provoking and poignant parts of The Magicians. It's not, you know, a simple, straightforward connection. The show gave us quite a few scenes between them that were beautiful, yet also, you know, a bit bitter. There was a lot of love, but also, you know, a lot of unresolved conflict and hurt that had built up over time.

One of the significant points of contention between them was, in fact, Zelda's decision to banish her own daughter from the Library. This is where Zelda herself lives and works for, you know, the entirety of her life. Imagine being cast out from your home and your mother's workplace. This act, you know, speaks volumes about Zelda's commitment to the Library's rules, but also, you know, the pain it must have caused both of them.

Their disagreements, you know, sometimes centered around Harriet's deafness. The text mentions that it was one of the things they fought about. This suggests a deeper layer of misunderstanding or perhaps, you know, a lack of acceptance that added to their strained relationship. If Zelda eventually decided to go against the Library, it makes a lot of sense that it would be, at least in part, because of her daughter, Harriet. Their bond, however complicated, was, you know, undeniably strong.

Zelda Schiff: The Head Librarian

Zelda Schiff is a truly memorable character in The Magicians. She holds the very important position of Head Librarian. This means she's in charge of, you know, all the knowledge contained within the Library, which is a vast and powerful institution in the show's universe. Her role often requires her to be very proper and, you know, to maintain a certain level of decorum and order. She tends to be very serious about her duties.

The actress who portrays Zelda Schiff on The Magicians is Mageina Tovah. Mageina Tovah, you know, really brought Zelda to life, giving her a very distinct presence. Zelda's physicality on screen feels, you know, quite proper. It's almost like a balancing act, where she tries to maintain control and composure even in very difficult situations. This portrayal, you know, really helps us see her as a person trying to do what she believes is right.

Zelda's dedication to her role and her sense of duty are, you know, very clear throughout the series. She lives and works within the Library, so it's not just a job for her; it's her entire world. This deep connection to the Library, you know, shapes many of her decisions and her interactions with others, including her own family. She is, in a way, the embodiment of the Library's rules and traditions.

Zelda's Past and Her Drive for What's Right

Zelda Schiff's past is, you know, quite a difficult one. She was born and raised by her mother, who was a hedge witch. This is a type of magic that often operates outside of organized magical institutions like Brakebills. Her mother died when Zelda was only ten years old, which, you know, left her an orphan at a very young age. This early loss, you know, surely shaped much of who she became.

After her mother's passing, Zelda, you know, found herself in a very challenging situation. She even used a drug called Archie to travel to the etheric realm. This is a kind of spiritual or non-physical plane of existence. She lived there for several years before, you know, eventually returning to Earth. This experience, you know, must have been incredibly formative for her, giving her a unique perspective on magic and reality.

Zelda strives to be proper, and to do what she sees as right. However, what's right isn't always, you know, black and white, especially in a world filled with magic and moral ambiguities. Her difficult past is something she even mentions to her young daughter, Harriet, in the "Six Short Stories" episode. This shows that, you know, even though she tries to be very composed, her personal history still, you know, impacts her deeply and shapes her approach to life.

Hope Quentin: Zelda's Newborn Daughter

While Harriet Schiff is Zelda's long-established daughter in the series, there is, you know, another daughter mentioned in the show's finale. This might surprise some viewers, but it's a very specific and, honestly, quite a magical event. The finale of The Magicians had Zelda give birth to a baby girl. This birth was, in fact, incredibly accelerated due to a unique magical phenomenon.

The reason for this incredibly fast pregnancy was, you know, something called "Red Monkey Month." This is a special time on Fillory, the magical land, when everything, you know, grows faster. So, Zelda's pregnancy, you know, progressed at an astonishing rate because of this magical influence. It's a rather unique detail that, you know, highlights the fantastical elements of the show.

Zelda named this newborn daughter Hope Quentin. She chose this name, you know, after her friend, Quentin Coldwater, who was a central character in the series. This act of naming her child after a dear friend is, you know, a very touching moment. It signifies, in a way, new beginnings and the continuation of legacy within the magical world. So, Zelda, you know, has two daughters, each with their own unique story and connection to her life.

About Mageina Tovah: The Actress Behind Zelda Schiff

The talented individual who brought Zelda Schiff to life on screen is Mageina Tovah. Her performance as the Head Librarian was, you know, truly captivating, making Zelda a character that viewers, you know, really connected with. Mageina Tovah played Zelda Schiff for the entire run of The Magicians, from 2016 to 2020. She was, you know, a consistent and strong presence in the series.

Mageina Tovah is, in fact, an American actress. She has a background that's, you know, quite interesting, reflecting a bit of a nomadic childhood. Her work on The Magicians is, you know, one of her most well-known roles, but she has, apparently, appeared in several other projects too. Her ability to portray a character as complex as Zelda, who is both proper and, you know, carries a lot of hidden struggles, is a testament to her acting skill.

Her contribution to the series helped shape the very essence of the Library and its inhabitants. Mageina Tovah, you know, embodied Zelda's strict adherence to rules, but also, you know, her underlying humanity and her difficult past. This made Zelda a character that, you know, felt very real despite being in a fantasy setting. She truly made Zelda, you know, feel proper and, also, like a balancing act.

Mageina Tovah: Personal Details

Detail	Information
Full Birth Name	Mageina Tovah Begtrup
Date of Birth	July 26, 1979
Place of Birth	Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Father's Profession	US Army Psychiatrist (Green Berets)
Mother's Profession	Army Physical Therapist
Nationality	American
Known For	Acting, particularly as Zelda Schiff in The Magicians

Mageina Tovah was born Mageina Tovah Begtrup. Her birth took place in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. This is, you know, a pretty scenic place to start one's life. She came into the world on July 26, 1979. Her family background is, in a way, quite unique, given her parents' professions. Her father was, in fact, a US Army psychiatrist, and he served in the Green Berets. This suggests a background of, you know, discipline and service.

Her mother also served in the military. She was, you know, an Army physical therapist. So, Mageina Tovah grew up with parents who were, you know, very dedicated to their work and to helping others. This kind of upbringing, you know, might have instilled a strong sense of purpose in her. She is, quite simply, an American actress, and her early life details are, you know, part of her personal story.

It's interesting to consider how, you know, a person's background might influence their acting choices. Mageina Tovah's upbringing, with parents in the military, could, you know, subtly inform her portrayal of characters who are often very disciplined or, you know, deal with challenging situations. She has, you know, certainly brought a lot of depth to her roles, including that of Zelda Schiff.

Mageina Tovah's Acting Career

Beyond her memorable role as Zelda Schiff in The Magicians, Mageina Tovah has, you know, actually acted in several other movies and television shows. She has, apparently, a diverse range of experience in the entertainment industry. This shows that her talent extends beyond just one character or one type of story. She's, you know, quite versatile as an actress.

For instance, she was in The Spongebob SquarePants Movie. This is, you know, a very different kind of project compared to a fantasy drama like The Magicians. Being part of a popular animated film, you know, shows her range and her ability to work in various genres. It's, you know, a fun fact about her career that many might not immediately know.

She also had a special role as Ursula Ditkovich. This is, you know, another one of her notable appearances. These roles, along with her work as Zelda, demonstrate that Mageina Tovah has, you know, built a solid acting career over the years. Her performances, you know, consistently add a certain quality to the projects she's involved in, making her a recognized face in the acting world. You can learn more about her other roles on her IMDb page, for example.

Frequently Asked Questions About Zelda's Daughter

Here are some common questions people often ask about Zelda's daughter in The Magicians, and, you know, some answers from the show's story.

Q: What is Harriet Schiff's relationship with her mother, Zelda?

A: Harriet and Zelda have, you know, a very complex and often strained relationship. The show portrayed many scenes between them that were both beautiful and, you know, quite bitter. Zelda even banished Harriet from the Library, where Zelda lives and works, which was, you know, a major point of conflict. Their bond, however, was, you know, undeniably strong, and Harriet's well-being was, in some respects, a key factor in Zelda's later decisions.

Q: Is Harriet Schiff deaf in The Magicians?

A: Yes, Harriet Schiff is, in fact, deaf in The Magicians. She communicates using American Sign Language, which is, you know, an important part of her character. Her deafness was, apparently, one of the things she and Zelda, her mother, sometimes argued about, adding another layer to their already complicated family dynamic. It was, you know, a very important detail to her character.

Q: Does Zelda have another daughter in the show?

A: Yes, Zelda does, in fact, have another daughter mentioned in the series finale. Thanks to an accelerated pregnancy due to "Red Monkey Month" on Fillory, she gives birth to a baby girl. Zelda names this newborn daughter Hope Quentin, which is, you know, a tribute to her friend, Quentin Coldwater. This event, you know, happens at the very end of the series, showing a new chapter for Zelda.

Learn more about The Magicians on our site, and link to this page for more character insights.