Maeve Kinkead (born May 31, 1946) is an American actress, born in New York City.

Kinkead is most known for her role as Vanessa Chamberlain on the soap opera Guiding Light. She played the role from 1980 to 1987 and from 1989 to 2000. She won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 1992.

A very popular character from the beginning, Vanessa had a very famous rivalry with Nola Reardon (Lisa Brown), the wife of her brother Quint (Michael Tylo). One of the more memorable scenes from the show's history include a public fight at the Civil War-themed Antebellum Ball, in which the two were angry at the other as they both decided to wear the same dress. Later, Vanessa renewed her rivalry with Nola when she married Nola's nephew Matt Reardon (Kurt McKinney).

After two decades of receiving a heavy work schedule, Kinkead had become exhausted and wished to quit the show. She has returned in a small capacity for special events, such as Josh and Reva's most recent weddding in 2002. She will also return to the show in early 2005, again for a short period of time.

Kinkead now lives in New York City with her husband Harry Streep, the brother of Meryl Streep.