Nolwenn Leroy

Nolwenn Leroy
Nolwenn Ar Magerez
Leroy attending the NRJ Music Awards in Cannes, France, on 26 January 2013
Leroy attending the NRJ Music Awards in Cannes, France, on 26 January 2013
Background information
Birth nameNolwenn Le Magueresse
Born (1982-09-28) 28 September 1982 (age 42)
Saint-Renan, Brittany, France
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • voice actress
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • violin
  • guitar
  • piano
  • keyboards
  • Celtic harp
  • Celtic flutes
Years active2002–present
LabelsUniversal International
Polydor France
Mercury France
Wrasse Records (UK)
Partner(s)Arnaud Clément
(2008–present)
Websitenolwennleroy.com

Nolwenn Le Magueresse (French pronunciation: [nolwɛn lə maɡəʁɛs]; born 28 September 1982), known by her stage name Nolwenn Leroy (pronounced [nolwɛn ləʁwa]), is a French singer-songwriter, musician, and actress.

Originally classically trained (violin and opera singing), she rose to fame after winning the second season of the French television music competition Star Academy in 2002. She has since recorded eight studio albums and scored two number one singles, "Cassé" and "Nolwenn Ohwo!", on the French charts.[1] In 2012, her album Bretonne was certified two times diamond for sales exceeding one million copies.[2]

Leroy is fluent in English, having spent a year in the United States as an exchange student. She sings in many languages, including French, Breton, English and Irish.

Leroy has received numerous awards and nominations. In January 2015, she was ranked 17th on Le Journal du Dimanche's 50 Most Loved Celebrities in France, making her the top female singer on the list since December 2012.[3][4] She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture in 2021.[5]

  1. ^ "Nolwenn Leroy's Singles French Chart positions". lescharts.com. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
  2. ^ "Nolwenn Leroy : "Bretonne" double disque de diamant !" (in French). Universal Music France. 12 February 2012. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  3. ^ (in French) "Jean-Jacques Goldman, Omar Sy et Jean Dujardin, personnalités préférées des Français". Ozap. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  4. ^ (in French) "Le Top 50 des personnalités – Décembre 2012". Ifop. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ordre des Arts et des Lettres was invoked but never defined (see the help page).